Mumbai Train Bombing Case Update: Top Court Pauses Acquittal, No Re-Arrest for Accused

The Supreme Court has paused the Bombay High Court verdict in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. The 12 acquitted individuals will not be re-arrested. The top court clarified that the High Court's acquittal should not set a precedent and issued a notice to the accused regarding the Maharashtra government's petition challenging the High Court order.

The Supreme Court stated, \"All respondents were released, so there is no need to bring them back to prison. However, the impugned judgment should not be considered a precedent in other cases. Therefore, a stay is placed on the impugned judgment.\"

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court mentioned that granting a stay on an acquittal would be an exceptional occurrence.

The Supreme Court's decision followed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta's representation for Maharashtra, expressing concerns that the High Court ruling could impact other trials under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Mumbai Train Blasts: A Brief Background

On July 11, 2006, a series of bomb blasts devastated seven Mumbai local train coaches, resulting in 189 fatalities and 824 injuries. In 2015, a special court handed death sentences to five of the 13 convicts. Seven individuals received life imprisonment, while one was acquitted. One of the convicts who received a death sentence passed away due to Covid in 2021.

Recently, a bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak overturned the special court's decision and acquitted all the accused. The High Court criticized the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad's investigation, citing unreliable witness statements and a failure to identify the bomb type used in the blasts.

According to the source: India Today.