The 1993 bombings, which forever scarred Mumbai, inflicted severe damage on some of the city's most iconic buildings, including the Bombay Stock Exchange. The series of harrowing bomb explosions occurred on the afternoon of March 12, 1993, between 1:30 pm and 3:40 pm. The devastating attacks claimed the lives of at least 257 individuals, with hundreds more sustaining injuries. Considered one of the most significant terror incidents on Indian soil until the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the 1993 bombings were also notable for being the first instance in which RDX was used as an explosive material.


The serial explosions were orchestrated by underworld Don Dawood Ibrahim, with the assistance of Tiger Memon. It is alleged that Memon provided his flats and garage in Mumbai for terrorist operations. 


March 12, 2024, commemorates the 31st anniversary of the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai. As India reflects on the harrowing incident of three decades ago, here is an overview of the key details surrounding the explosions.


On December 6, 1992, the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya triggered widespread violence across the country. Seeking retribution for the demolition, Dawood Ibrahim and Tiger Memon devised a plan to carry out a terrorist attack in Mumbai.


After conducting numerous meetings at various locations within the nation and overseas, and receiving arms and ammunition from Dubai and Pakistan, explosives were placed in Mumbai. The ensuing series of blasts rocked the financial capital of India.


Key targets of the terror attacks included the Bombay Stock Exchange building, Masjid-Mandvi Corporation Bank Branch, Zaveri Bazaar, Fisherman’s Colony in Mahim Causeway, Plaza Cinema, Katha Bazaar, Century Bazaar, Hotel Sea Rock, and Air India building, among others. Most of the explosives were concealed in cars and scooters.


Timeline


March 12, 1993: 12 serial blast plunge Mumbai resulting in 257 death and injuries to 713 others.


April 19, 1993: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was arrested.


November 4, 1993: Months after the serial explosions, primary charge sheet running to more than 10,000 pages were registered against 189 accused, including Sanjay Dutt. 


November 19, 1993: The Mumbai serial blast probe was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).


April 10, 1995: Of the total number of people accused in the case, 26 were discharged by the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court. Charges were filed against the remaining accused. Further, the apex court released two more accused: travel agent Abu Asim Azmi (Samajwadi Party leader) and Amjed Meher Baux.


April 19, 1995: First leg of Mumbai serial blast trial begins.


September 18, 2002: One of the accused behind the serial blast, Abu Salem along with actress Monica Bedi was apprehended in Lisbon, Portugal.


March 20, 2003: After arriving from Dubai, accused Mustafa Dossa was nabbed by the CBI at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi. 


September 2003: The main Mumbai bombing trial concludes. The TADA court in Mumbai reserves its ruling.


January 9, 2004: Charges were filled against Mustafa Dossa.


November 11, 2005: Accused Abu Salem was extradited to India.


December 9, 2005: Charges were registered against Abu Salem.


June 13, 2006: Abu Salem's trial was separated.


September 19, 2011: On Salem's request, the High Court in Lisbon rules that there was a breach of the Indian commitment provided to the Portuguese authorities by imposing fresh charges that included the death sentence.


January 2012: Portugal's Supreme Court rejected a CBI appeal against the high court's ruling.


March 19, 2012: Portugal's Constitutional Court stays the Supreme Court's ruling regarding the violation of the extradition agreement. India also noted in its request an order from the Supreme Court of India, which halted the trial against Salem due to fresh allegations leveled against the mobster.


June 2012: Salem is shot at Taloja Central jail in Navi Mumbai, reportedly by mobster Devendra Jagtap aka JD, an accused in the murder case of counsel Shahid Azmi, who defended the suspects in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.


February 16, 2015: A special TADA court found Salem and two others guilty of shooting builder Pradeep Jain 17 times outside his Juhu house in March 1995.


February 25, 2015: Salem was convicted to life in jail and fined Rs 8 lakh for the murder of Pradeep Jain.


August 2015: In his statement before the TADA court, Salem denies going to Sanjay Dutt's residence and giving him two AK-47 rifles and hand grenades prior to the 1993 Mumbai explosions.


June 16, 2017: The TADA court has convicted six of the seven defendants, including Salem, for criminal conspiracy and under the TADA Act. Salem was also convicted under the Explosives Act of 1884 and the Arms Act of 1959. The court claims that Salem's 'near closeness' to the key conspirators, Anees Ibrahim and Mustafa Dossa, prompted him to transfer and conceal weaponry and ammunition in several locations. The court convicts Salem of giving guns to Sanjay Dutt.


June 28, 2017: Mustafa Dossa died of heart arrest at a Mumbai hospital.


September 7, 2017: The court sentenced Tahir Merchant and Firoz Abdul Rashid Khan to death, Abu Salem and Karimullah Khan to life in prison, and Riyaz Siddiqui to ten years in jail.


December 5, 2017: The Supreme Court postponed the execution of death row inmate Tahir Merchant. After he disputed the special TADA court's September 7 ruling, which found him to be one of the major conspirators.


March 8, 2018: Farooq Takla, an associate to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and accused of the 1993 Mumbai serial explosions, is extradited from Dubai. He departed India following the bombings. A Red Corner Notice was issued against him in 1995.


July 11, 2022: The Supreme Court informs the Centre that it must honor its pledges to Portugal and release Salem after 25 years in jail. According to the Bar and Bench, the highest court also declared that the time Salem was jailed in Portugal in connection with a passport fraud case cannot be considered part of the 25-year sentence.



The prime accused behind the blasts, Tiger Memon and Dawood Ibrahim, still continue to remain at large.