Bombay HC Frees All 12 in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case

In a stunning verdict, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 individuals convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, overturning their sentences and declaring that the prosecution "utterly failed" to prove their guilt. The ruling comes 19 years after the devastating terror attack that killed over 180 people and injured many others on Mumbai’s Western Railway network.

Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak, presiding over a special bench, ruled that the prosecution’s evidence was insufficient to sustain the convictions. “The case against the accused lacks conclusive proof. Their involvement in the crime is not believable,” the court stated, quashing the 2015 special court verdict that had sentenced five of the accused to death and seven to life imprisonment.

The court ordered the immediate release of the accused, provided they are not wanted in other cases. The 12 individuals, appearing via video conference from various jails across Maharashtra, expressed gratitude to their legal team after the verdict.

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The July 11, 2006, attack saw seven coordinated explosions tear through Mumbai’s local trains, targeting the bustling western line during peak hours. The bombings left a trail of devastation, claiming numerous lives and shaking the city’s core. Monday’s acquittal has reignited debates over the investigation and prosecution of the case, with questions lingering about justice for the victims.

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