7/11 Mumbai Blasts: SC Stays HC’s Acquittal Order, Allows Accused to Remain Free

The State of Maharashtra filed criminal appeals with the Supreme Court today, July 24, contesting the Bombay High Court’s ruling that cleared all 12 defendants in the 2006 7/11 Mumbai Blasts train explosions case. Speaking on behalf of the State of Maharashtra, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta informed the bench made up of Justices MM Sundresh and NK Singh that he was not requesting an order compelling the accused, who had been freed from prison after the ruling, to turn themselves in.

He did, however, ask for a stay of the ruling, arguing that certain High Court observations in the ruling may affect other ongoing MCOCA prosecutions. “Your lordships might think about declaring that the judgment has been stayed.”

“We have been informed that all of the respondents have been released, and there is no question of bringing them back to the prison,” the bench noted in the order. Nevertheless, we are inclined to hold that the contested judgment will not be regarded as a precedent, given the SG’s opinion on the legal issue. The contested judgment is stayed to that extent. The Bombay High Court quashed and set aside the ruling of a special Maharashtra Control of Organized Crimes Act court on July 21. The court had sentenced five accused to death and seven others to life in prison for planning and carrying out the July 11, 2006, bombings in Mumbai’s Western Railway local line.

In Mumbai, seven bombs had torn past the local defenses. 189 individuals were killed and almost 820 innocent people were seriously injured in these explosions, which are often referred to as the notorious “7/11 Mumbai Blasts.” The prosecution failed to prove the accused’s guilt, according to a bench made up of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad looked into the situation.

The High Court also noted that the ATS officers, who were under duress to identify the criminals, tortured the accused. Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh, Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Suhail Mehmood Shaikh, and Zameer Ahmed Latiur Rehman Shaikh were given life sentences, while Kamal Ansari, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, and Asif Khan were given the death penalty for planting the bombs.