May 31 - Judgement day for serial blast trial

The date for the judgement in the 1998 serial blast cases, which claimed 52 lives in and around the city, would be announced by the designated special court on May 31.

The arguments by the prosecution and defence sides were completed on April 10 before the special judge, Uthirapathi.

Even as about 100 accused, produced before the court this morning, appealed for an early judgement, since they were in jail for the last nine years, Uthirapathi said the date for the verdict would be announced on May 31.

52 persons were killed and 200 persons injured, when a series of explosions took place in the city and suburbs ahead of the visit of BJP leader L K Advani for election campaign on February 14, 1998.

There are 166 accused in the cases, including leaders of the banned al-Umma and chairman of Kerala-based PDP, Abdul Nasser Mahdhani. Four persons wanted in connection with the cases are absconding and three cases are still under investigation.