Amid the ongoing Lok Sabha elections in 2024, Ibrahim Moosa, one of the convicts in the 1993 Bombay blasts, was seen campaigning for Amol Kirtikar, the Maha Vikas Aghadi’s (MVA) candidate for the Mumbai North West Lok Sabha constituency. A video capturing Moosa campaigning for Kirtikar went viral on the internet on May 9, 2024.
Moosa had been convicted by the court in 2013 for supplying arms to actor Sanjay Dutt and was subsequently sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment under the provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA). After serving his jail term, he ventured into politics and joined the election campaign for Amol Kirtikar, a member of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena.
Ameet Satam, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, took notice of the video and criticised Amol Kirtikar and the Congress for allowing Moosa to participate in the campaign activities in Andheri West on the evening of May 8, 2024.
1993 #BombayBlasts convict Ibrahim Moosa seen campaigning for @ShivSenaUBT_ NorthWest candidate Amol Kirtikar pic.twitter.com/8DEQpok5PY
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) May 9, 2024
In his statement, Satam remarked, “Yesterday evening in Andheri West, Ibrahim Moosa, a 1993 bomb blasts case accused, was seen campaigning and supporting Mumbai North West MVA candidate Amol Kirtikar on the field. It is now evident that the fight is not just between nationalist forces and the so-called ‘tukde tukde gang’ but a battle between India and Pakistan. Mumbai’s enemies are in league with the Congress. It is important for everyone to recognise the dangerous alliance that threatens the safety of Mumbai’s citizens.”
Moosa, also known as Baba Chauhan, was convicted in the 1993 Bombay blast case. According to the prosecution, Moosa, along with mobster Abu Salem and others, visited actor Sanjay Dutt’s residence on January 15, 1993, to inform him that firearms would be delivered the following day.
These weapons were later removed, except for one AK-47 rifle found in Dutt’s possession, which led to the actor’s conviction. The serial bombings that occurred in 1993 resulted in the deaths of 257 people and injuries to over 700.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has fielded Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) MLA Ravindra Waikar for the Mumbai North West seat against Amol Kirtikar. This has set the stage for a direct electoral contest between the Shinde Sena’s Waikar and the Uddhav Sena’s Kirtikar. The Mumbai North West constituency encompasses the areas of Jogeshwari East, Dindoshi, Goregaon, Versova, Andheri East, and Andheri West.
Waikar, a senior aide to Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray, switched sides in March and joined the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He has served as a four-time chairman of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Standing Committee and a three-time MLA of the undivided Shiv Sena from Jogeshwari.
Elections in the Mumbai North West constituency are scheduled for May 20, 2024. The counting of votes will take place on June 4, with the results being announced on the same day.
