In a landmark verdict nearly two decades after the deadly 2006 Mumbai train blasts, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted for their alleged role in the attacks that killed 189 people and injured over 800.
The division bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak overturned the 2015 convictions handed down by a special MCOCA court, citing serious procedural lapses, questionable evidence, and allegations of custodial torture. The bench observed that the prosecution had “thoroughly failed” to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Reading out the operative portion of the judgment, the court highlighted glaring inconsistencies in witness testimonies and investigative procedures. “Many witnesses remained silent for years before abruptly identifying the accused this is abnormal and raises serious doubts over the credibility of the identification process,” the bench noted. It further said the test identification parade itself had been strongly challenged by the defence.
The court found that confessional statements extracted during the investigation were unreliable, with several sections being “copy-paste” reproductions undermining their authenticity. The judges concluded that the defence had successfully demonstrated that the accused were subjected to torture during interrogation.
The coordinated blasts, which occurred on July 11, 2006, targeted first-class compartments of suburban trains on Mumbai’s Western line. Seven bombs exploded within an 11-minute window during peak evening hours, sending shockwaves across the city and the nation.
The bench also took strong exception to how physical evidence was handled. It pointed out that explosive materials and circuit boxes recovered from alleged bomb-making sites were not sealed or preserved adequately, casting doubt on their credibility in court.
Furthermore, the court reprimanded the prosecution for failing to examine several crucial witnesses, further weakening the case. “There was non-application of mind throughout the investigation and trial. The chain of evidence was never properly established,” the court stated.
The acquittal comes ten years after the 2015 verdict by the special MCOCA court, which had sentenced five of the accused to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment. The appeals filed by the convicts and the state were heard for over six months before the High Court pronounced its decision. A detailed copy of the judgment is expected soon.
Who Were the Acquitted?
Among the 12 acquitted were sentenced to death were: Kamal Ansari (now deceased), Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, and Asif Khan. Sentenced to life imprisonment: 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.
However, The Anti-Terrorism Squad, Maharashtra State, Mumbai, has stated that, in consultation with the Special Public Prosecutors and after analyzing the judgment, a decision on the further course of action will be taken.
