Mumbai, June 06: "Sir you can get a revolver from Uttar Pradesh for only Rs 300?" said 1993 serial blasts convict Manojkumar Gupta after being asked to pay a fine of Rs one lakh for possessing four firearms by a special TADA court Tuesday.
Special Judge P D Kode then said every convict must pay Rs 25,000 as fine for possessing a firearm but Gupta started arguing with the judge, a first for any convict since the sentencing of 100 convicts in the case began on May 18.
"Where shall I bring that much money from?" Gupta, a bodyguard of blast mastermind Tiger Memon, said in reference to the total fine of Rs 2.75 lakh imposed on him for the three counts on which he was found guilty.
To this, Kode said, "You can get the money, after all you are Ejaz Pathan's man." Gupta is believed to have links with gangster Ejaz Pathan, who has also been convicted in the same case.
This comment infuriated Gupta, who said Pathan had not given him a single rupee in the past 14 years.
Kode then ordered security guards to take Gupta from the witness box. While he was being taken away, Gupta threatened the guards with dire consequences if they did not allow him to speak to the judge.
Gupta was the first of five convicts to be sentenced today and the incident prompted Kode not to allow two more convicts with "bad records" to stand in the witness box while he pronounced their sentences.
Gupta was given a 14-year jail term but has already served 14 years in prison. He will have to serve an additional 21 months in jail if he does not pay the fine.
Bureau Report
