State Moves SC Against Acquittal of All 12 Accused by Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Bombay High Court’s recent acquittal of all twelve accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case, also known as the 7/11 case.

The Special Leave Petition (SLP) was mentioned before Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who sought urgent listing.

“It is a serious matter. SLP is ready. Please list it tomorrow. There is urgency,” said SG Mehta.

In response, CJI Gavai noted that eight of the accused had already been released and agreed to list the case for hearing on July 23, 2025.

Background of the Case

The 7/11 blasts involved seven coordinated explosions on Mumbai’s suburban trains on July 11, 2006, killing 187 people and injuring over 800. Following extensive investigations, a trial was conducted under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

In October 2015, a special MCOCA court sentenced five accused to death and seven others to life imprisonment.

The five who received the death penalty included:

• Kamal Ansari (died in 2021 due to COVID-19 in jail)
• Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh
• Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui
• Naveed Hussain Khan
• Asif Khan

The remaining seven accused were sentenced to life, including:

• Tanveer Ahmed Ansari
• Mohammed Majid Shafi
• Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam
• Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari
• Muzzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh
• Suhail Mehmood Shaikh
• Zameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Shaikh

All convicts had filed appeals, and the trial court’s death sentence reference was sent to the Bombay High Court for confirmation as per Section 366 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Bombay High Court Acquittal

In a landmark judgment, the Bombay High Court bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak acquitted all the accused, stating that the prosecution had failed to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Key observations included:

• Witness testimonies were unreliable due to the time lapse.
• Recovered evidence like bombs, guns, and maps was found irrelevant as the type of bomb used was not identified.
• The court highlighted serious flaws in the investigation and trial, warning that the true perpetrators may still be at large.

“The prosecution utterly failed in establishing the case beyond reasonable doubts,” the bench held, noting that the case gave the public a misleading sense of resolution.

The acquittal led to the release of the accused, prompting significant public debate and concern, especially among victims’ families.

Supreme Court’s Next Hearing

The Supreme Court will now hear Maharashtra’s plea against the acquittal on July 23, 2025. The outcome could have significant implications for criminal justice, terror trials, and appellate oversight in India.