2006 Mumbai bomb blast: Maharashtra government acquitted SC from 12 accused against HC’s decision; Fadnavis called the order ‘shocking’. Bharat News
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear a special holiday petition filed by the Government of Maharashtra on 25 July, acquitting the Bombay High Court’s decision in 2006 Mumbai train blasts.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appeared to the state, told CJI br Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria’s bench that the matter is of extreme urgency. Mehta said, “This is a serious issue and requires immediate hearing for it,” the state had already filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision, which had overturned the sentence, including the death sentence for five of the accused.The bench said that according to media reports, eight out of 12 persons have been released from jail. Responding, Mehta confirmed, “Yes, they have been released. Nevertheless, the matter needs an immediate hearing.”On Monday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shocked the Bombay High Court verdict. “The decision of the Bombay High Court is very shocking and we will challenge it in the Supreme Court,” Fadnavis said.The Bombay High Court verdict convicted 12 accused for serial blasts on suburban railway network in Mumbai on 11 July 2006, separating a special Mcoca court’s 2015 verdict. The explosions killed 189 people and injured more than 800.The High Court, in the decision of its 671-hit, stated that the prosecution had failed to establish the type of explosives used, and found unknown statements inadvertently due to allegations of torture. The court also raised doubts on the credibility and procedural laps of the witness in the identity process.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the state government after the verdict. “It’s very sad, instead of giving them death sentence, they have been acquitted. It shows that the case we presented were not foolish, there were flaws in it; I believe it is the state government’s fault. The state government did not take it seriously and presented a serious argument, that is why this decision has come... I hope Maharashtra’s Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the Chief Minister, will challenge the decision of this court … “BJP leader Kirit Somaiya also expressed concern over the ruling, saying, “In these 19 years, many members of their families died, they migrated, they forgot about it. But it is a huge shock that after 19 years, it is being said that nothing happened for an incident. Mudies in 2006 investigation?,The acquitted persons were held under the stringent Mcoca Act and spent almost two decades in jail. HC ruling has led to widespread reactions, divided over the operation of justice system and investigation with political and legal circles.
