NEW DELHI: In a dramatic reversal nearly two decades after the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 men previously convicted in the case, including five who had been sentenced to death. The court stated that the prosecution had “utterly failed” to prove its case, highlighting glaring flaws in the investigation and trial.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock over the verdict, calling it “very shocking” and announced the state government’s intent to challenge the acquittals in the Supreme Court. “We will not let this verdict go unchallenged,” he told reporters.
The High Court’s special bench overturned the 2015 ruling of a special MCOCA court, which had convicted the 12 individuals in connection with the serial blasts that rocked Mumbai’s suburban train system on July 11, 2006, killing 189 people and injuring over 800.
In a strongly worded 671-page judgment, the court pointed to significant weaknesses in the prosecution’s case — including failure to establish the type of explosive used, unreliable witness testimonies, flawed identification procedures, and the inadmissibility of confessional statements due to allegations of torture.
The ruling opened with a pointed remark:
“Punishing the actual perpetrator of a crime is essential to uphold the rule of law and ensure public safety. But presenting a false appearance of justice by implicating the wrong individuals not only undermines trust in the justice system but also leaves the real threat at large. This, essentially, is what the present case conveys.”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called the verdict “very sad,” criticizing the state for its failure to present a strong, foolproof case. “Instead of confirming the death penalties, the court acquitted them. This is a serious lapse on the part of the government. I hope Devendra Fadnavis, in his capacity as home minister, challenges this verdict,” she said.
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya also voiced concern, saying the acquittals were a blow to the victims’ families. “It’s been 19 years. Some victims’ relatives have died, others moved on. Now the court says nothing happened? Was the trial court misled? Or was the 2006 investigation deeply flawed? Legal experts must now take this forward in the Supreme Court so justice can finally be delivered,” he said.
The trial court’s original conviction was heavily based on confessions recorded under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The High Court, however, dismissed these as lacking credibility and being obtained under questionable circumstances.
Reacting to the verdict, defence advocate Tahera Qureshi, who represented one of the acquitted, Zamir Sheikh, welcomed the judgment. “We have waited 19 years for this. My client was only 25 or 26 when arrested. He was a middle-class youth who was falsely accused of travelling abroad for training and conducting reconnaissance. He was sentenced to life simply because the authorities claimed he ‘knew’ the incident would happen. Today’s judgment finally restores his dignity,” she said.
The 2006 blasts were among the deadliest terror attacks in India, triggering nationwide outrage and a sweeping investigation. With the High Court now casting doubt on that entire process, the long and painful legal saga appears headed for yet another round in the country’s top court.
