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2006 Train Blasts: Maharashtra to Review Shock Acquittal Before Supreme Court Appeal

State probes verdict as victims demand justice.

The Maharashtra government will meticulously review the Bombay High Court’s acquittal of all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts before deciding whether to challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced. The devastating July 11, 2006, attacks saw seven bombs detonate on Mumbai’s Western Railway trains, killing over 180 people and injuring hundreds during peak hours.

Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak, in a stunning verdict, quashed the 2015 special court convictions—five death sentences and seven life imprisonments—citing the prosecution’s failure to prove the case. The court criticized the lack of evidence on the bomb types and deemed witness testimonies and confessions unreliable, noting some were likely extracted through torture.

Bawankule, a former Maharashtra BJP president, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will lead a detailed assessment of the judgment’s merits, with any new evidence to be presented in a potential Supreme Court appeal. Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya, joined by victims’ families, met Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Iqbal Singh Chahal, pressing for a robust legal response. Somaiya, calling the verdict “painful and shocking,” urged Fadnavis to form a team of top investigators and lawyers to address flaws in the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad’s (ATS) original probe.

Also Read: 2006 Train Blasts: Detailed Look at the Accused - previously convicted and now acquitted

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam labeled the acquittal “unfortunate,” questioning who orchestrated the attacks if the accused were innocent, while NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal echoed the need for a thorough review. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the ATS, alleging systemic investigative failures and torture, and demanded accountability. Victims, like survivor Harish Powar, expressed anguish, with Powar sarcastically noting the verdict makes commuters “culprits” for boarding trains.

The acquittal has sparked outrage, with legal experts like Ujjwal Nikam calling it “concerning” and urging a Supreme Court challenge. The government faces mounting pressure to deliver justice for the 189 lives lost and over 800 injured, as Mumbai grapples with the unresolved question: who bombed the trains?

Also Read: Bombay HC Frees All 12 in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case

 
 
 
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