The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear a plea by the Maharashtra government challenging the acquittal of all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. The case is scheduled to be heard on July 24. This move follows a recent Bombay High Court verdict that overturned the convictions of the accused, who had previously been sentenced by a special court in 2015. The 2015 ruling saw five men sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment.

The Bombay High Court's decision to acquit the accused was based on the prosecution's failure to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The court cited unreliable evidence, questionable witness identification parades, and confessional statements allegedly extracted under torture. The High Court's 671-page judgment highlighted numerous flaws in the prosecution's case, including the unreliability of certain witnesses and the inadmissible nature of confessions obtained after the invocation of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The special bench noted that the prosecution failed to conclusively prove the type of bombs used in the crime and that the evidence relied upon was not conclusive to convict the accused.

The Maharashtra government's appeal to the Supreme Court argues that the High Court's ruling is "legally unsustainable" and "deeply unsettling for victims and survivors". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter before Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, emphasizing the urgency of the case. The Chief Justice agreed to list the case for hearing on July 24.

The 7/11 Mumbai train blasts were a series of coordinated bomb blasts that occurred on July 11, 2006, on Mumbai's suburban railway. The attacks killed 189 people and injured over 800, making it one of the deadliest terror attacks in India's history. The blasts caused devastation across the city's western railway line and led to widespread national outrage.

The acquittal by the Bombay High Court has sparked intense debate and shockwaves, particularly among the victims and their families who have tirelessly pursued justice for nearly two decades. With the Supreme Court having upheld the right of victims to challenge acquittals, this legal battle is set to continue as those affected seek accountability for the horrific attack. The Supreme Court's decision to hear the plea offers a glimmer of hope for those seeking justice and closure in this long-standing case.