Author: S Balakrishnan
Publication: The Times of India
Date: December 12, 2004
An alleged plan by the Dawood gang
to eliminate the 17 accused in the Best Bakery case, currently lodged in
Arthur Road Jail in central Mumbai, has been foiled by the jail authorities.
Although jail superintendent Swati
Sathe declined to comment on the sensational conspiracy sources in the
jail revealed that there was a plan to poison the food being supplied to
the 17 accused. A leading member of the Dawood gang, who is in the jail
in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast case, along with a
few other inmates is believed to have played a key role in befriending
the 17 persons and winning their confidence.
The Best Bakery retrial is being
held here at the Mazgaon court. The accused are taken under heavy police
escort from the jail to the court, which makes it difficult for anyone
to target them outside. Hence, a plan was allegedly hatched to eliminate
them inside the jail. The poison was to have been smuggled into the jail
on Saturday, December 11. The conspiracy came to light when jail authorities
seized a piece of paper, containing instructions in Urdu, which was passed
on by D-Company members outside the jail to the key conspirator lodged
inside.
Sources said a large amount of money
was set aside by the gang to finance this operation. Following the unearthing
of the conspiracy, the Dawood aide has been shifted from the general barracks
to a high-security cell inside the jail premises.
