Prosecution failed to prove charges; Court cites lack of credible evidence and procedural lapses
🚨 Key Highlights
- 189 people killed, 800+ injured in Mumbai train blasts on July 11, 2006
- All 12 convicts acquitted by Bombay High Court after 19 years
- Court rules “prosecution failed to prove case beyond reasonable doubt”
- Convicts to be released from prison unless wanted in other cases
🔍 What Happened on July 11, 2006?
On a tragic evening in Mumbai, seven coordinated bomb blasts struck first-class compartments of local trains within just 11 minutes during the evening rush hour. The attacks occurred between 6:24 pm and 6:35 pm, targeting trains departing from Churchgate. The blasts occurred at:
- Matunga Road
- Mahim Junction
- Bandra
- Khar Road
- Jogeshwari
- Bhayandar
- Borivali
The bombs were allegedly planted in pressure cookers, designed to maximize casualties. The attack claimed 189 lives and injured more than 800 people, making it one of India’s deadliest terror attacks.
⚖️ Bombay High Court Verdict: 12 Acquitted
In a major development nearly two decades later, the Bombay High Court on July 21, 2025, acquitted all 12 individuals who were previously convicted in the 2015 trial.
The division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak ruled that:
“The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside.”
The court also said the accused shall be released from jail if they are not involved in any other case.
❗ Why Did the Court Acquit Them?
The court gave them the benefit of doubt due to significant lapses in the prosecution’s case, including:
- Lack of credible evidence connecting the accused to the crime
- Witness testimonies deemed unreliable, especially given the time lapse (100+ days after the blasts)
- Unrelated explosive material and weapons shown as evidence
- Failure to prove the bomb type used in the blasts
- Inconsistencies in investigation and statements
👨⚖️ 2015 Trial Court Convictions: Now Overturned
In 2015, a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court had sentenced:
To Death:
- Faisal Sheikh
- Asif Khan
- Kamal Ansari
- Ehtesham Siddiqui
- Naveed Khan
To Life Imprisonment:
- Mohammed Sajid Ansari
- Mohammed Ali
- Dr. Tanveer Ansari
- Majid Shafi
- Muzzammil Shaikh
- Sohail Shaikh
- Zamir Shaikh
All these convictions have now been nullified.
🧾 Aftermath and Public Response
This landmark judgment has stirred public debate, reopening wounds from one of India’s darkest terror attacks while raising questions about the justice delivery system, investigation standards, and the role of law enforcement in handling high-profile cases.
Legal experts suggest the verdict underscores the need for stronger, evidence-based prosecution in terrorism-related cases to ensure justice is both served and seen to be served.
