TIOL-DDT 1001 · Friday, 28 November 2008 · story 5 of 7

Hyderabad Excise Consultant killed in Mumbai Blast

Laxmi Narayan Goyal, the Hyderabad based Advocate practising Indirect Taxes had gone to attend a case in CESTAT, in Mumbai and while trying to return to Hyderabad yesterday, he heard about the firing in Mumbai and so postponed his journey and took a cab to his sister's house in Kandivli. God and/or terrorists had other plans. He never reached his sister's place but was blown up on the way.

Mumbai Police has no clue as to whether the taxi driver was a criminal or a martyr. It seems the cab driver broke the traffic signal. All other vehicles stopped at the signal but the cab went ahead only to explode into a cloud of smoke and fire a couple of seconds later. People wondered whether the driver was carrying a bomb on his own or he was an angel who took the cab ahead to save those waiting at the traffic signal.

Goyal had established himself as a capable lawyer in matters relating to Central Excise, Customs and Service Tax and had a great future ahead, before he drove into the jaws of death in Mumbai - had he not missed that train, he would have been happily back in Hyderabad with his family and his cases - but fate takes you where you are most required! Who can imagine that the taxi you hire has a bomb in it?

Terrorism anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere.