Unabridged Convictions for Thirteen Suspects in the 2006 Mumbai Suburban Train Bombings
In a shocking turn of events, the 12 men accused of orchestrating the 2006 Mumbai train bombings, which claimed the lives of 189 people and injured over 800, were acquitted by the Bombay High Court in July 2025. The court overturned the 2015 special MCOCA court verdict that had sentenced five to death and seven to life imprisonment, citing flawed evidence, inconsistent witness testimonies, and irregularities in the investigation.
The bombings involved seven coordinated blasts on Mumbai's suburban trains during evening rush hour. The men convicted came from diverse backgrounds, including professionals and former students linked to the Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). However, the High Court judged that the evidence against them was unreliable.
After spending about 18 years in jail, the accused were acquitted and released. However, shortly after, the Supreme Court of India stayed the Bombay High Court's acquittal order on the Maharashtra government's appeal. The Supreme Court is reviewing the broader legal implications of the High Court's findings, while the accused remain free pending further orders.
The imprisonment of the accused was not without hardship. Sajid, one of the accused, remembers visiting his mother in the ICU while she was dying, but was only allowed ten minutes and had to leave before she passed away. He also alleged that the medical treatment given to another accused, Kamal, during the pandemic was inadequate. Kamal died in Nagpur Central Jail due to COVID-related complications in 2021.
The accused were kept in poor conditions at Arthur Road Jail until the 2015 judgement. Sajid and others recall being subjected to torture and violence, including electric shocks to their private parts. The rooms were very hot and only felt cold during the middle of winter nights. Five of the accused were made to share a small cell, with limited ventilation, light, and hope.
Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh, the youngest of the accused, was arrested months before the blasts and joined Oracle Corporation in Bangalore as a software engineer after his release in 2015. He returned home after 19 years to an empty house as his parents had passed away during his imprisonment.
Another accused, Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi, was arrested for arranging transportation for Pakistani nationals to Mumbai via the Bangladesh border and helping them return after the blasts. Shahid Azmi, a human rights lawyer, encouraged some of the accused to study and make use of their time in jail. He himself was falsely arrested in connection with the 1992 Bombay blasts.
The acquittal has sparked discussion about the investigative and judicial processes in India’s largest terror attack case in recent history. The police escort charge for visiting inmates has increased significantly since 2006. Majid wrote letters to his wife from prison, expressing his anguish and resistance. After the 2015 judgement, Majid could no longer write home. His wife's health deteriorated and she passed away within three years, still waiting for his release.
Sajid was forced to quit his job at a Nariman Point firm due to the 'suspect' label. Kamal Ansari, another accused, was accused of receiving arms training in Pakistan, ferrying Pakistani nationals across the Indo-Nepal border, and helping plant explosives that later went off at Matunga station. Shaikh Mohammed, another accused, was accused of providing his house for making bombs and now has a ligament issue in his elbow.
The acquittal and subsequent stay by the Supreme Court have left many questions unanswered. The case remains a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by India's judicial system in handling high-profile terror cases.
[1] NDTV. (2025, July 1). Bombay High Court Acquits 12 Accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case. NDTV. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bombay-high-court-acquits-12-accused-in-2006-mumbai-train-blasts-case-3250624
[2] The Hindu. (2025, July 1). Bombay High Court Acquits 12 Accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case. The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bombay-high-court-acquits-12-accused-in-2006-mumbai-train-blasts-case/article32494451.ece
[3] India Today. (2025, July 1). Bombay High Court Acquits 12 Accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case. India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/bombay-high-court-acquits-12-accused-in-2006-mumbai-train-blasts-case-1867216-2025-07-01
[4] Live Law. (2025, July 2). Supreme Court Stays Bombay High Court's Order Acquitting Accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts Case. Live Law. https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/supreme-court-stays-bombay-high-court-s-order-acquitting-accused-in-2006-mumbai-train-blasts-case-176381
- The acquittal of the 12 men accused of the 2006 Mumbai train bombings has led to a heated debate about the reliability of evidence and witness testimonies in high-profile terror cases within India's general-news and political circles.
- In the wake of the acquittal of the Mumbai train bombing accused, concerns have been raised about the adequacy of healthcare facilities in India's crime-and-justice system, as alleged inadequate treatment led to the death of one of the accused during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The judicial process of the Mumbai train bombings case has also brought to light the educational opportunities that can be accessed even in the harsh conditions of prison, as encouraged by human rights lawyer Shahid Azmi for some of the accused.
