The Bombay High Court's recent acquittal of all 12 individuals accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings has been met with strong reactions, including a vow from the Maharashtra government to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has called the verdict "very shocking".
On July 11, 2006, seven bombs exploded on crowded Mumbai local trains during the evening rush hour, killing 209 people and injuring over 700. The bombs, placed in pressure cookers, detonated within a span of 11 minutes on the Western Line Suburban Section of the Mumbai Division of Western Railway. The blasts occurred at or near the suburban railway stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali.
In September 2015, a special trial court convicted 12 of the 13 arrested individuals. Five of them were sentenced to death, while seven others received life sentences for their involvement. However, on July 21, 2025, a special bench of the Bombay High Court, comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak, overturned the 2015 judgment, acquitting all 12 accused. The court cited the prosecution's "utter failure" to prove the case against the accused, stating that it was "hard to believe that the accused committed the crime".
The High Court's 671-page judgment highlighted several concerns. The prosecution failed to establish the type of explosive used in the bombings. The court deemed confessional statements inadmissible due to allegations of torture. Irregularities in the identification parade and the unreliability of several prosecution witnesses were also noted. The bench stated that there was no reason for witnesses to remember the accused after almost 100 days and pointed out that some witnesses remained silent for unusually long periods before identifying the accused. The recovery of bombs, guns, and maps submitted by the prosecution was considered immaterial and did not clearly link the accused to the attacks.
Reactions to the verdict have been strong and varied. Fadnavis stated that the government would challenge the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya emphasized that justice should not be denied due to procedural lapses in the investigation or legal handling. He urged Fadnavis to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a strong legal panel to immediately move the Supreme Court. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi expressed sadness over the acquittal, suggesting that the case presented by the state government had loopholes and was not foolproof.
Some of the acquitted individuals and their families have expressed relief and maintained their innocence. One acquitted individual, Mohammed Sajid Ansari, claimed he was framed by the Mumbai Police and had been saying that he was innocent from the beginning. Sarifur Rehman, the brother of another acquitted individual, Zamir Ahmed, shared his family's happiness and stated that his brother was falsely implicated.
The acquittal has raised questions about the investigation and prosecution of the case. Some have pointed to gaps in the investigation, legal representation, or courtroom proceedings. The High Court observed that the prosecution failed to even bring on record the type of bombs used in the crime and that the evidence relied on was not conclusive to convict the accused.
The Maharashtra government's decision to appeal the verdict in the Supreme Court indicates its commitment to pursuing justice for the victims of the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. The Supreme Court will now have the responsibility of reviewing the High Court's judgment and determining whether the acquittal will stand.
