7/11 Mumbai Blasts :Supreme Court Stays Bombay HC's Acquittal Judgment; But Says Accused Not Required To Go Back To Prison

The Supreme Court today(July 24) issued notice in the criminal appeals filed by the State of Maharashtra challenging the Bombay High Court's judgment which acquitted all 12 accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case of 2006.

Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Maharashtra, told the bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh, that he was not seeking an order to direct the accused persons, who have been released from prison following the judgment, to surrender. However, he requested a stay of the judgment, saying that some of the observations made by the High Court in the judgment can impact other pending trials under the MCOCA. "Your lordships may consider saying, the judgment is stayed, however, they will not be required to come back to the prison," SG said.

The bench observed in the order :

"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."

On July 21, the Bombay High Court quashed and set aside the judgment of a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court, which handed over the death sentence to 5 and life term to 7 accused booked for conspiring and executing the bombs in Mumbai's Western Railway local line on July 11, 2006.

7 bombs had ripped through the local lines in Mumbai. A total of 189 citizens lost their lives and nearly 820 innocents sustained severe injuries in these blasts which are also known as the infamous "7/11 Mumbai Blasts."

A bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak held that the prosecution failed to establish the guilt of the accused. The case was investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad.

The High Court also observed that the accused were tortured by the ATS officers who were under pressure to find the culprits.

While convicts Kamal Ansari, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Naveed Hussain Khan and Asif Khan were handed over death penalty for planting the bombs, the other set of convicts - Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi, Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh, Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, Suhail Mehmood Shaikh and Zameer Ahmed Latiur Rehman Shaikh, were granted life term.

Case Details: THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v MOHD FAISAL ATAUR RAHMAN SHAIKH AND ORS|SLP(Crl) No. 10780-10791/2025