Nineteen years after one of India’s deadliest terror attacks, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. The July 11, 2006, attacks killed 189 people and injured over 800 when seven coordinated explosions rocked Mumbai’s local train network within just 11 minutes during evening rush hour.
The high court bench, comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak, overturned the 2015 trial court verdict that had found the 12 accused guilty under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Five of the accused had been sentenced to death while the remaining seven received life imprisonment for conspiracy and execution of the bombings. Today, the court ruled that the prosecution had "utterly failed" to establish the accused’s involvement in the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
In its detailed judgment, the court stated, “It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. The prosecution has failed to prove its case. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside.” The bench criticized the reliability of witness testimonies, noting that it is unreasonable to expect accurate suspect identification more than 100 days after the incident.
Moreover, the court questioned the credibility of the evidence, including the explosives, arms, and maps allegedly recovered during the investigation, stating that these were not conclusively linked to the blasts. The prosecution could not even determine the exact type of bombs used—despite initial claims that pressure cooker bombs were involved in the serial attacks.
The seven blasts on July 11, 2006, occurred between 6:24 PM and 6:35 PM, targeting first-class compartments of local trains departing from Churchgate station. The explosions occurred near Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali stations, spreading chaos and devastation during peak travel hours.
In 2015, a special MCOCA court sentenced Faisal Sheikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Sidduqui, and Naveed Khan to death. The other seven Mohammed Sajid Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Dr. Tanveer Ansari, Majid Shafi, Muzzammil Shaikh, Sohail Shaikh, and Zamir Shaikh received life sentences. Following today’s high court ruling, all 12 will now be released, provided they are not wanted in any other ongoing investigations or criminal matters. The verdict marks a significant turn in a case that has spanned nearly two decades, raising questions about investigative lapses, the burden of proof in terrorism cases, and the long path to justice for victims and their families.
