Madras HC grants 3 months leave to life convict in1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case

Allowing a writ petition filed by the convict, N.S. Abdul Hakkim's (45) wife, a Division Bench comprising Justices M. Sundar and M. Nirmal Kumar granted three months of ordinary leave after perusing the medical records of the convict.

The convict has been suffering from gliosarcoma (a cancerous brain tumour) stage 4, and the prognosis was that he would survive only for a year or a little more.

Counsel for the petitioner S. Manoharan produced medical reports from the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai where the convict had undergone craniotomy surgery.

Since he was under the observation of a radiation oncologist in Coimbatore and required further treatment, the judges granted him leave till June 7, 2023, and ordered that he should surrender before the Puzhal Central Prison Superintendent in Chennai at 5 p.m. on that day.

Abdul Hakkim was convicted by a special court in 2007 of Coimbatore serial bomb blasts and the high court earlier dismissed an appeal preferred by him.

However, his appeal in the Supreme Court filed in 2011 was pending.

It may be recalled that more than 50 people were killed and over 250 injured in the serial blasts which had rocked the Textile City between February 14 and 17, 1998.