Mumbai | July 21, 2025 — In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai local train serial bomb blasts case, reversing the 2015 judgment of the MCOCA special court which had handed out death and life sentences.

The case (G.R. No. 05/2006, MCOCA Special Case No. 21/2006) pertains to the horrific series of bomb blasts that rocked the Western Railway suburban trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, killing over 180 people and injuring more than 800.

On September 30, 2015, the special MCOCA court had sentenced:

• 5 accused to death,
• 7 accused to life imprisonment,
• while 1 accused was acquitted.

Following standard procedure, the death sentences were referred to the Bombay High Court for confirmation, and the convicted individuals filed appeals challenging their sentences.

A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S. G. Chapalgaonkar heard the matter extensively from *July 2024, with final arguments concluding on *January 27, 2025.

On July 21, 2025, the High Court delivered its judgment:

• Rejected the death reference,
• Allowed the appeals of all convicted individuals,
• Set aside the 2015 convictions and sentences passed by the MCOCA special court.

Representing the Government of India and the state of Maharashtra were Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Raja Thakare and Special Public Prosecutor Chimalkar, who argued for upholding the original verdict.

The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, has stated that it is currently analyzing the High Court’s detailed judgment. Consultations are underway with legal experts and special prosecutors to determine the next course of legal action, which may include an appeal to the Supreme Court.

The verdict has sparked significant public and legal interest, as it not only impacts one of the most devastating terror incidents in Mumbai’s history but also raises serious questions about the prosecution’s evidence and investigation.

Mumbai, July 21, 2025* — In a major legal development nearly two decades after the devastating 2006 Mumbai train bombings, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the case. The court observed that the prosecution had “utterly failed” to establish their involvement, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the investigation and trial.

The division bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Gauri Godse delivered the verdict, overturning life sentences and death penalties handed down by a special court in 2015 under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The court pointed to inconsistencies, procedural lapses, and weak evidence that failed to meet the standards required for a criminal conviction.

Background: One of India’s Deadliest Terror Attacks

On July 11, 2006, a series of coordinated blasts ripped through seven suburban trains on the Western Railway network during evening rush hour, killing 189 people and injuring over 800. The attack sent shockwaves across the country and led to a massive crackdown by law enforcement agencies.

Twelve men, said to be affiliated with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), were arrested and later convicted for their alleged role in planting explosives in pressure cookers inside train compartments.

Court’s Observations*

In its judgment, the High Court sharply criticized the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for lapses in investigation. The bench noted that the prosecution’s case was primarily based on confessional statements and lacked independent corroboration. Many of the claims, the court found, were not backed by physical evidence or reliable witness testimony.

The judges also questioned the delay in lodging the FIRs and the procedural irregularities in recording confessions under MCOCA. They emphasized the need for fair investigation and warned that justice cannot be achieved through shortcuts.

Legal and Human Rights Repercussions*

The acquittal has sparked renewed debate over wrongful convictions, custodial torture allegations, and the functioning of India’s anti-terror laws. Several civil rights groups have welcomed the verdict, calling for accountability of officials responsible for the flawed investigation.

Meanwhile, the state government has expressed concern over the judgment and is reportedly reviewing options for a possible appeal in the Supreme Court.

Voices from the Courtroom*

Outside the courtroom, family members of the acquitted men broke down in tears, many having spent nearly 17 years behind bars. One of the defense lawyers stated, “Justice has been delayed, but not denied. This judgment exposes the danger of rushing to convictions in sensitive cases.”

On the other side, victims’ families expressed disappointment and grief, saying the acquittals reopened wounds that had never fully healed.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court, on Monday, will pronounce judgment  in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case. 

A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak heard the the death confirmation pleas filed by the state government and the appeals by convicts. 

Four of the accused who were awarded death sentences are Mohammad Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan, Asif Khan, all of them bomb planters. The fifth accused sentenced to death, Kamal Ahamed Ansari, also an alleged bomb planter, died due to Covid in 2022.

The other seven – Tanvir Ahmed Ansari, Mohammad Majid Shafi, Shaikh Alam Shaikh, Mohd Sajid Ansari, Muzzammil Shaikh, Soheil Mehmood Shaikh and Zamir Ahmad Shaikh – have also approached the HC, challenging their life imprisonment.

About The Case

On July 11, 2006, RDX blasts at seven locations on the suburban rail network of Mumbai in a span of 11 minutes had claimed 189 lives and injured 827 commuters. After an eight-year-long trial, 12 out of the 13 accused were convicted. While five were given the death sentence, the remaining seven were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Initially, seven different FIRs were registered at local police stations. Considering the gravity of the offence, the case was transferred to the State Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) same month. 

While 13 accused were arrested, 15 people were shown as wanted, some of them allegedly in Pakistan. One of the accused died while planting the bomb in the train and the other was shot dead in an encounter. The ATS, invoked the MCOCA and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, and the chargesheet was filed in November 2006. 

There were 192 prosecution witnesses and 51 defence witnesses and two court witnesses. As it was not possible to get all injured witnesses to court, the prosecution submitted 252 affidavits of the injured witnesses. 

Special public prosecutors Raja Thakare and A. Chimalkar appeared for the State. The special bench commences hearing in July 2024. It reserved judgment in the pleas in January this year. 

The special bench was constituted last year after Etheshaam Siddiqui, one of the convicts facing the death penalty, filed an application in the High Court seeking an early hearing and disposal of the appeals. The case has remained pending since a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court awarded death sentences to five persons in 2015. 

Eleven different benches commenced hearings but were unable to conclude.