Bengaluru: A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bengaluru is set to pronounce the quantum of sentence for Mohammed Shariq, the convict in the Mangaluru cooker bomb blast case, on April 27.

The development comes after the court accepted the plea bargaining application filed by the accused, who had earlier admitted to his involvement in the incident.

Plea bargaining accepted by court

During the hearing on Saturday, the NIA special court took on record Shariq’s plea of guilt, which had been submitted around three months ago. In his application, the accused admitted his role in the blast, leading the court to accept the plea bargaining request.

Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar, representing the agency, urged the court to impose the maximum possible punishment, citing the seriousness and potential impact of the offence.

Blast incident in 2022

The case relates to an explosion that took place on November 19, 2022, at around 4:40 pm within the Kankanady police station limits in Mangaluru.

According to investigators, an improvised explosive device (IED) concealed inside a pressure cooker detonated while Shariq was travelling in an autorickshaw. The blast caused panic in the area and raised concerns over public safety.

NIA investigation and chargesheet

Following the incident, the NIA took over the investigation and conducted a detailed probe into the case. The agency later filed a chargesheet against Shariq in 2024, outlining the evidence and circumstances related to the blast.

Officials stated that the case involved serious offences, prompting the central agency’s intervention and continued monitoring.

Sentencing to be pronounced

With the court having accepted the plea bargaining application, the focus now shifts to the sentencing phase. The quantum of punishment will be decided on April 27, taking into account the nature of the crime, the accused’s admission of guilt, and submissions made by the prosecution.

Conclusion

The upcoming verdict is expected to bring closure to a case that had raised significant security concerns in Mangaluru. Authorities continue to stress the importance of strict action in such cases to deter threats to public safety and maintain law and order.