2006 Train Blast: SC To Hear Maharashtra Govt’s Plea Against Bombay HC Verdict On July 24

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to urgently hear the Maharashtra government’s plea challenging the recent Bombay High Court verdict that acquitted all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria scheduled the matter for hearing on Thursday, July 24. The decision came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Maharashtra government, sought an urgent listing, citing the seriousness of the issue.

“There is an element of urgency,” Mehta told the court while requesting a swift hearing.

High Court Acquits All 12 Accused

On Monday, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 men who were convicted in connection with the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, which claimed over 180 lives and injured hundreds more. In its ruling, the court observed that the prosecution had “utterly failed” to prove the charges and cast serious doubts on the entire investigation.

The division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse said, “It is hard to believe the accused committed the crime,” highlighting multiple lapses in evidence and procedural inconsistencies that weakened the prosecution’s case.

Background

The serial blasts that rocked Mumbai’s suburban railway network on July 11, 2006, remain one of the most horrific terror attacks in Indian history. In a coordinated strike, seven bombs exploded in first-class compartments of local trains during peak evening hours, killing more than 180 people and injuring over 800.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad had arrested and charged 13 men under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and other anti-terror laws. One of the accused later turned approver, and the remaining 12 were convicted by a special court in 2015. They were handed various sentences, including life imprisonment and death penalty.

Legal Battle Ahead

The Bombay High Court’s sweeping acquittal of all 12 convicts has stirred strong reactions, particularly from victims’ families and the state government. With the Supreme Court now taking up the matter, the case is expected to undergo fresh scrutiny at the highest judicial level.

As the legal proceedings resume on July 24, all eyes will be on how the Supreme Court responds to the Maharashtra government’s challenge to the controversial acquittal.