Maharashtra Moves Supreme Court Against Bombay HC Verdict Acquitting 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Accused

The Maharashtra government has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Bombay High Court’s recent decision to acquit all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, LiveLaw reported.

The acquittal, delivered on Monday (21 July), overturned a 2015 ruling by a special MCOCA court, which had sentenced five of the accused to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment.

On Tuesday, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter before a bench led by Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, seeking urgent listing of the state’s Special Leave Petition (SLP).

“It is a serious matter… SLP is ready. Please list it tomorrow… There is urgency,” Mehta submitted.

Chief Justice Gavai, who was part of the bench, acknowledged having read reports that eight of the accused have already been released following the High Court’s order. Mehta responded, “Still there are some important issues to be looked at.”

The Supreme Court has agreed to take up the matter on Thursday (24 July).

The 11 July 2006 blasts which was one of Mumbai’s worst terror attacks killed 189 people and injured over 800, after seven RDX-laden bombs exploded in rapid succession on the city’s suburban Western Railway line during evening rush hour.

The High Court bench, comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak, found that the prosecution had failed to establish the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.

The court ruled that the evidence presented by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had investigated the case, was insufficient to sustain convictions under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

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