MUMBAI: If 1993 blast accused Mustafa Dossa is convicted on Friday and transferred to the central prison, it will be a jolt for several inmates at Arthur Road jail enjoying his blessings for one-and-a-half decades.

Dossa's blessings range from providing grocery to families of undertrials, to giving them legal assistance and cash bail. He also adds special dishes to the daily gruel served to undertrials. Now, jailbirds are worried about life in his absence. The special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act court is likely to pronounce its verdict on the Dawood aide and six others in the 1993 serial blasts case on Friday.

Since all the seven accused were absconding when main trial in the case began in 1995, they are being tried separately. This will be the last Ramzan that over 300 inmates will be able to enjoy the Saheri (before sunrise) and Iftar (after dusk) feasts which Dossa has been treating them to.“Dossa is generous particularly when it comes to celebrations like an iftar feast or Eid.He orders the best food for the inmates. Two of his men are always at his service, camping outside the jail,“ said a source.

Sources say Dossa is among the jail's richest inmates with a huge flow of cash and food and his largesse for jail inmates is facilitated by the greased palms of jail aut horities. Dossa, who is lodged in circle 10 of the jail, also runs a darbar inside as well as when he is ferried to various courts. “The only person who crossed swords with him was Abu Salem , whom he assaulted inside the jail in 2010 with a sharpened spoon. They can't tolerate each other and exchange abuses when brought face to face,“ said a source. Fearing another attack, Salem was shifted to Taloja jail in 2011 but he was again attacked there by a Chhota Shakeel gang member.

Dossa was recently in the news for travelling to a Porbunder court along with a woman, police escort in tow. Jail authorities were unavailable for comment.

