‘Insufficient evidence:’ Bombay HC acquits all 12 Muslim convicts in Mumbai train blasts case

About 19 years after a series of bomb blasts ripped through Mumbai’s suburban train, killing 189 people and causing injuries to over 800, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 Muslim men who were convicted in the case, citing insufficient evidence.

A two-member bench, comprising Justices Anil S Kilor and Shyam C Chandak, set aside the 2015 special court ruling that had handed death sentences to five accused and life terms to seven others.

The judges observed that the prosecution's case relied on inconsistent testimonies, insufficient evidence, and procedural irregularities.

The court pointed to serious lapses, including flawed identification process, unreliable confessional statements, and poor handling of key forensic material.

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It said that some of the accused's confessions appeared to have been "copy-pasted", lending weight to the defence’s allegations of torture during interrogation.

The bench further noted that the prosecution had failed to conclusively identify the type of explosives used in the attacks.

All 12 men were ordered to be released immediately, provided they are not wanted in any other pending cases. Each has been asked to submit a personal bond of Rs25,000.

The attacks, carried out on July 11, 2006, involved seven coordinated blasts in first-class compartments on Mumbai’s western suburban rail line during evening rush hour.