2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case: SC Stays Bombay HC Verdict But Allows Them To Stay Out of Jail

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay High Court's verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case.

The bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh said that the acquitted accused are not required to go back to jail, although the apex court has given a stay to the Bombay High Court's verdict, according to Live Law.

The court said, "We have been informed that all the respondents have been released and there is no question of bringing them back to the prison. However, taking note of the submission made by the SG on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent. To that extent, there is a stay of the impugned judgment."

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, who represents the Maharashtra government in the case, informed the court that he does not want the acquitted to surrender but requested a stay of the judgment, claiming that the Bombay HC's verdict could have an impact on the other pending trials.

"Your lordships may consider saying, the judgment is stayed, however, they will not be required to come back to the prison," he said.

The Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted 12 accused, stating the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was "hard to believe the accused committed the crime".

It has to be noted that out of the 12, five had been sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment by the special court. Kamal Ansari, a death row convict in the blasts case, died during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.

Dr Tanveer Ansari, Sohail Mahemud Shaikh, Zameer Ahmed Latipur Rahman Shaikh, and Mohammed Sajid Mohammed Shafi were released from the Amaravati prison, and Mujammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh was released from the Nashik Road central prison.

In the deadly incident, 189 people lost their lives and 820 people sustained injuries as 7 bombs ripped through the local lines in Mumbai on July 11, 2006.