Maha files plea in SC appealing Bombay HC's acquittal of 12 convicts in train blasts case

New Delhi: The Maharashtra government filed an appeal with the Supreme Court on Tuesday, challenging Monday's Bombay High Court ruling, which acquitted all 12 convicts in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case.

Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta brought the case before a bench of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai, requesting an urgent listing and hearing of the appeal.

After hearing Mehta's submission, the CJI-led bench agreed to schedule the hearing on Thursday. During the brief hearing, Mehta informed the top court that the Special Leave Petition (SLP) was ready. "Please list it tomorrow..." "There is urgency," the Secretary General urged.

CJI Gavai remarked that, according to news reports, eight of the accused had already been released from jail after the Bombay High Court's recent ruling.

On Monday, the High Court acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in connection with the 2006 Mumbai train bombings.

This decision overturned a 2015 verdict by the Special MCOCA Court, which had sentenced five of them to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment.

The High Court found it “difficult to believe” that the accused were actually responsible for the attacks.

The blasts occurred on 11 July 2006, when seven coordinated bombs exploded on Mumbai’s suburban trains during evening rush hour, killing 189 people and injuring 820.

In their ruling, Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak outlined multiple flaws in the original investigation and trial. They emphasised that the prosecution had failed to gather or present evidence adequately.

Notably, although the first suspect was arrested on 20 July 2006, the mandatory test identification parade was not conducted for four months, TNIE reported.

The Bombay High Court ordered that the 12 individuals acquitted in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case be released, provided they are not being held in connection with any other matter, and each furnishes a bond of ₹25,000.

The court noted that some of the prosecution witnesses were involved in the 2002 Ghatkopar blast case and that their credibility was significantly weakened during cross-examination.

Earlier, the special MCOCA court had sentenced five individuals — including Kamal Ansari (who has since passed away), Mohammad Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, and Asif Khan — to death.

The remaining seven, including Tanveer Ahmed Ibrahim Ansari and Mohammed Majid Shafi, were given life imprisonment.

Following the High Court’s ruling, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad announced its intention to challenge the acquittal in the Supreme Court.