'Our contention is that this is not the rarest of rare cases, so it does not warrant the death penalty. My clients had no personal grudge against any of the victims in the incidents, they were simply misguided and indoctrinated,' Khan told IANS.

Irrespective of the outcome, Khan said he would move the high court in appeal against the POTA Special Court judgement after consulting his clients.

Last Monday, the curtains fell on the six-year long Mumbai twin blasts case of Aug 25, 2003. The twin blasts conspiracy was hatched in Dubai and carried out by Zahid Yusuf Patni, the chief of a LeT module in Mumbai named 'Gujarat Revenge Force'. He later turned approver in the case.

The terror attacks were carried out ostensibly to 'avenge' the death of Muslims killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots that broke out in the wake of the Godhra train burning on Feb. 27 that year.

Two other accused Rizwan Laddowala and A. Shaikh Batterywala, were acquitted by the Supreme Court for lack of evidence after a POTA review committee recommended their discharge from the case. The duo was accused of connecting the timer with the detonator and prepared the other electrical circuits used in the deadly bombs.

Another prime accused and the mastermind behind the blasts, Nazir, was shot dead in a police encounter in Matunga, central Mumbai in September 2003.

The Sayeds minor daughter Farheen, though involved in the operation, was not charged under POTA and was discharged from the case a few years ago, according to Kunjuraman.