Mumbai Train Blast: All 12 Accused Freed by High Court, Owaisi and Others React
Mumbai, 21 July – (www.deccanlive.com): In a major decision, the Bombay High Court on Monday, July 21, freed all 12 men who were earlier convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case. The court said that the prosecution completely failed to prove the charges against them. All the accused were Muslims.
The special division bench of Justice Anil S. Kilor and Justice Shyam C. Chandak reversed the decision given in 2015 by a special court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). That court had sentenced five of them to death and the remaining seven to life in prison.
The judges said that the prosecution could not prove the case beyond doubt and it was difficult to believe that the accused were guilty based on the police’s evidence. Therefore, their punishment has been canceled.
The bench added that punishing the real culprits is important for justice and public safety. But pretending that the case is solved just because someone has been arrested gives a false sense of justice.
Asaduddin Owaisi Reacts
Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi welcomed the court’s decision but also expressed sadness. He said that these innocent men lost 18 years of their lives for a crime they did not commit.
Owaisi, the president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), posted on X (Twitter), saying:
“12 Muslim men were in jail for 18 years for a crime they did not commit. Their lives are destroyed. 180 families who lost their loved ones and those injured – they still have no closure.”
He also criticized the police for how they handled such high-profile cases and blamed the media for creating biased narratives. He said that when public pressure is high, the police try to force confessions from someone quickly, and the media makes it look like that person is guilty even before the trial ends.
Owaisi demanded that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers who investigated this case must be punished. He also raised questions about the political leadership in 2006.
Reactions from Other Parties
Milind Deora, a member of the Shiv Sena and MP from Mumbai in 2006, said:
“As a Mumbai resident, I cannot accept this decision… I request the Maharashtra government to hire the best lawyers and appeal against this decision.”
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya called the decision “very disappointing” and blamed weak investigation and legal handling.
Ujjwal Nikam, who was the special public prosecutor and is now a Member of Parliament, said that the acquittal raises serious concerns and the state will appeal in the Supreme Court.
What Happened in 2006?
On July 11, 2006, there were seven bomb blasts on Mumbai’s Western Railway local trains. These blasts killed around 200 people and injured 829 others.
The bombs were placed in crowded trains going toward Mumbai’s far suburbs. The explosions happened between Matunga and Mira Road stations during the evening rush hour.
The blasts were so powerful that they tore through the thick steel roofs of the coaches and threw passengers out of the train.
At Mahim and Borivali stations, people waiting on the platform and those in other nearby trains were also killed or injured.
At that time, Mumbai Police said that a group called Lashkar-e-Qahhar, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, had claimed responsibility. However, the then National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan said there was no credible proof that Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI was involved.
