In view of the sensitivity of the 1993 bomb blasts case and the numerous threats received by Special TADA Judge P D Kode who is hearing the matter, the Maharashtra government has sanctioned a personal insurance cover of Rs 25 lakh for him.

A government resolution to this effect was passed by the law and judiciary department on May 16.

Kode was receiving envelopes with suspicious materials and getting threats through letters and phone calls. Looking at the sensitivity and the seriousness of the 1993 blasts case, a proposal to provide personal insurance cover to him was being thought of, the resolution said.

An annual premium of Rs 3,750 will be paid through the sum allotted for the expenditure of the Bombay High Court for the fiscal year 2007-08, while it is the responsibility of the state government to renew the policy every year, it said.

Kode has been presiding as the special TADA judge since 1996 and has convicted 100 of the 123 accused in the case. The court is currently awarding sentences to the convicts.

The serial blasts that ripped through this city on March 12, 1993 killed 257 people and injured over 700.