Synopsis:
The Bombay High Court delivers a landmark acquittal in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, setting aside all 12 convictions—including five death sentences—due to unreliable evidence and procedural gaps
By Qalam Times News Network
Date: July 21, 2025
Acquittal Overturns 12 Convictions After 19-Year Legal Battle
Acquittal is now the defining word in one of India’s most high-profile terror cases. Nineteen years after the deadly 2006 Mumbai train bombings, which killed 189 and injured over 800 commuters, the Bombay High Court has overturned the convictions of all 12 individuals found guilty by a special MCOCA court in 2015. The acquitted included five men who were previously on death row.
In a strong-worded judgment, Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak ruled that the prosecution failed to prove any concrete link between the accused and the attacks. This acquittal comes nearly a decade after the initial convictions and marks a turning point in a case that once appeared sealed with finality.
High Court Critiques the Evidence as Flimsy and Unreliable
The judgment dissects the foundation of the original convictions: witness testimonies and recovered materials. The bench observed that key witness statements—especially from taxi drivers and so-called eyewitnesses—were riddled with inconsistencies and lacked credibility. The court found it “unbelievable” that ordinary citizens could recognize suspects nearly 100 days after the incident, given the trauma and chaos surrounding the attacks.
Equally damning was the court’s treatment of the physical evidence. The prosecution had presented items such as maps, weapons, and bomb components allegedly recovered from the accused. The High Court dismissed these as irrelevant, stating that the prosecution never established what type of bomb was used in the attacks. Without that baseline, the recovery of materials was deemed inconsequential.
Background: The Case That Shook Mumbai
On July 11, 2006, between 6:23 and 6:28 PM, seven coordinated bomb blasts ripped through first-class compartments of Mumbai’s suburban Western Railway line. The attacks targeted peak-hour trains, killing passengers inside and even injuring bystanders on station platforms. The explosions occurred in moving trains near stations like Mahim, Bandra, and Borivali, and were executed with military-level precision using timer devices.
Initially, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 13 individuals under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The trial began after the chargesheet was filed in November 2006. The lower court in 2015 handed down five death sentences and seven life terms.
Appeals, Delays, and the Road to Final Acquittal
The acquittal is the result of a prolonged legal process. In 2015, the state government filed a plea in the High Court seeking confirmation of the death sentences. In parallel, the convicted individuals began filing appeals challenging their sentencing and the verdict itself.
Due to the case’s complexity and the sheer volume of evidence, proceedings were repeatedly postponed. Hearings were scattered across different benches, and momentum was lost. It wasn’t until one of the convicted—Ehtesham Siddiqui—filed an urgent application for speedy hearing that the case regained traction. Final arguments concluded in January 2025, and the judgment was reserved until now.
State’s Petition for Death Penalty Dismissed
In its verdict, the High Court not only accepted the appeals filed by the convicts but also dismissed the state’s petition to uphold the death penalties. The court noted that the standard of proof required in criminal cases was simply not met. “It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime,” the bench noted, underscoring systemic weaknesses in the investigation.
Unanswered Questions Remain
Though the acquittal may bring closure for the accused and their families, it reopens questions about justice for the victims. Fifteen individuals originally named in the chargesheet remain at large, several suspected to be in Pakistan. The acquittal puts renewed pressure on investigative agencies to reassess the case and bring clarity to a tragedy that left the nation stunned nearly two decades ago.
