Death row convict, Ehtesham Siddiqui, along with life convict Mohammad Ali, were released from Nagpur Central Jail on Monday evening after the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 persons previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case. Another death row convict Naveed Khan was not released as a case of attempt to murder is pending against him. In 2015, a special trial court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) had sentenced five of the accused to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment. Of the 12, three were lodged in Nagpur Central Jail. A senior official from the Nagpur Central Jail confirmed that they received the High Court’s acquittal order in the evening, after which the release process for the three convicts - along with others held in the same case - was initiated. The trio was released later that evening.

 

The acquittal came after the Bombay High Court bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak observed that the prosecution had “utterly failed” to prove the charges against the accused. “The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside,” the court stated, adding that, they shall be released unless wanted in any other case. The court granted the benefit of doubt to the accused, citing unreliable witness statements and weak evidence. It noted that after 100 days of the blasts, it was unrealistic to expect witnesses to accurately identify suspects. The court also pointed out that the explosives, weapons, and maps recovered during the investigation did not appear to be connected to the case.

 

Moreover, the prosecution was unable to establish the exact type of bombs used. On July 11, 2006, seven coordinated blasts ripped through first-class compartments of Mumbai local trains during peak evening hours, between 6:24 pm and 6:35 pm. The explosions occurred near stations including Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali. Rigged pressure cookers were used to maximise the impact, resulting in over 180 deaths and hundreds injured. Following a year-long trial, the 2015 verdict had sentenced five men - Faisal Sheikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Siddiqui, and Naveed Khan - to death. Seven others - Mohammed Sajid Ansari, Mohammad Ali, Dr Tanveer Ansari, Majid Shafi, Muzzammil Shaikh, Sohail Shaikh, and Zamir Shaikh - were sentenced to life imprisonment for conspiracy.

 

 

 

Four accused who were acquitted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case were released from Amravati District Central Jail on Monday late in the evening. The Bombay High Court overturned the convictions of all 12 accused in the case, citing lack of evidence. One of the accused had passed away during the years-long incarceration. The four accused released from Amravati District Central Jail are Mohammad Majid Mohammad Shafi (51), Jameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Sheikh (55), Tanveer Ahmed Mohammad Ibrahim Ansari (56) and Sohail Mehmood Sheikh (52). The 2006 serial blasts occurred on July 11, targeting Mumbai’s suburban train network. Bombs exploded at seven locations Matunga road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Santacruz, Jogeshwari, Borivali, and Bhayander. The attacks claimed 189 lives and injured over 800 people.

 

The Anti-terrorist Squad had registered offence under the The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). 4 set free from Amravati Contd from page 1 The trail of the case was run in special MCOCA Court. Earlier, the special court had convicted 12 men and five of them were sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment. While the Bombay High Court heard appeals against these verdicts. A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak pronounced the final judgment, acquitting all the 12 accused.

 

The hearings were conducted via video conferencing, connecting the accused from Amravati, Nagpur, and Yerawada (Pune) Central Jails. Following the verdict, the four accused from Amravati District Central Jail were released. This ruling marks a significant development in one of the most high-profile terror cases in India, raising fresh concerns about wrongful convictions and the lengthy delays in the judicial process. Out of the 11 accused, 4 were kept in Amravati District Central Jail. Sohail Mohammad Sheikh, one of the accused released, while speaking with mediamen said, he has complete faith in the government. and expressed his gratitude towards the court, lawyers and judges for the justice. He said that they were charged of being associated with SIMI.