MUMBAI (IANS)– In a dramatic turn of events, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 men previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, which killed 189 people and injured over 800 others. The court ordered their immediate release from prison.
The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S. Chandak, marking a major setback for the investigative agencies involved in the high-profile case. The High Court’s decision overturns the convictions and sentences handed down by a special court in 2015.
A total of 13 individuals were initially accused in the case. One had already been acquitted by the lower court, while the remaining 12 were convicted—five sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment. All 12 have now been acquitted by the High Court after nearly two decades behind bars.
The 2006 serial bombings targeted Mumbai’s suburban rail network during evening rush hour, with seven blasts occurring over an 11-minute span between Churchgate and Borivali stations. The bombs, packed with RDX and ammonium nitrate and concealed in pressure cookers, caused widespread devastation and panic.
At the time, investigators linked the attack to Islamic militants allegedly backed by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) charged the suspects under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), claiming the plot was executed by operatives of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, with assistance from the banned Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).
However, despite the grave allegations, the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence in court. The High Court found significant lapses in the investigation and procedural inconsistencies. The accused had also claimed they were tortured by police and forced to give confessions.
Among those originally sentenced to death were Faisal Sheikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Siddiqui, and Naveed Khan. All had challenged their convictions in the High Court. The state government had also filed an appeal seeking confirmation of the death sentences.
On Monday, the 12 men appeared via video conference from various jails across Maharashtra, including Yerwada, Nashik, Amravati, and Nagpur. Following the verdict, the acquitted men expressed relief and joy at finally being cleared after 19 years of imprisonment.
In its ruling, the bench stated: “It is unsafe to reach the satisfaction that the appellant accused have committed the offense for which they have been convicted and sentenced. Therefore, the judgment and order of conviction and sentence are liable to be quashed and set aside.” (Source: IANS)
