The Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 men convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, citing lack of evidence. Families of the accused welcome the verdict as a long-awaited moment of justice after nearly 19 years of emotional and legal turmoil, hailing it as a historic victory.
In a landmark judgment, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 individuals who were previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, citing the prosecution’s failure to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The verdict has been hailed by the families of the accused as a long-overdue moment of justice, bringing closure to a nearly two-decade-long legal and emotional struggle.
The July 11, 2006, serial blasts were one of Mumbai’s deadliest terror attacks, killing 189 people and injuring over 800. Seven bombs, concealed in pressure cookers and filled with RDX and ammonium nitrate, exploded on suburban trains during evening rush hour on the Western Line between Churchgate and Borivali.
A special court in 2015 had convicted 12 men in the case — sentencing five to death and the remaining seven to life imprisonment. One of the original 13 accused, Wahid Sheikh, was acquitted at the time. Monday’s High Court ruling now clears the remaining 12 of all charges.
A division bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S.G. Chandak delivered the verdict, noting that the prosecution had failed to establish a credible chain of evidence linking the accused to the terror plot. The judgment not only overturns the special court’s ruling but also raises serious questions about the integrity of the investigation led by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Families of the acquitted men expressed profound relief and gratitude. Speaking to IANS, Zameer Shaikh, whose brother was among those convicted, said tearfully, “We had been waiting for this day since 2015. Our faith in the judiciary has been restored. This was a completely fabricated case. My brother was innocent.”
Maqsood Ansari, brother of another accused, Tanvir Ansari, said, “We always believed the truth would come out. There was never any real evidence. We were devastated by the 2015 verdict, but we fought on. Today, our family feels free.”
Many of the families credited Wahid Sheikh — acquitted in 2015 — for his tireless efforts to keep the case in the public eye and push for justice. “Wahid never gave up. He kept fighting for all of us,” said Maqsood.
Recalling his own harrowing experience, Wahid Sheikh stated, “In 2006, 13 of us were arrested by the ATS. I spent nine years in jail facing torture and baseless allegations. Though I was acquitted in 2015, the others remained behind bars. For 19 years, we have lived with this burden. Today, the truth has prevailed. The ATS built a false narrative, manipulated evidence, and tried to destroy our lives. But we never stopped believing in justice.”
He also confirmed that his brother-in-law, Sajid Ansari, sentenced to life imprisonment, was among those acquitted by the High Court and would now walk free after spending nearly two decades behind bars.
Legal experts and civil rights activists have also reacted strongly to the judgment. Many believe the case highlights serious lapses in investigative procedures and underscores the importance of upholding due process and individual rights.
The court’s decision has cast doubt on the ATS’s handling of the case, with several observers questioning how such a large-scale miscarriage of justice could persist for so long. Critics have also pointed out the emotional and social trauma suffered by the families of the accused, many of whom were ostracized or forced to live in fear and stigma for years.
The acquitted men are expected to be released from custody immediately, pending administrative formalities. Meanwhile, the verdict has renewed calls for reforms in India’s criminal justice system, especially in cases involving terrorism charges.
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As the families reunite with their loved ones after years of separation, they are not only celebrating freedom but also reclaiming their dignity. “Today is not just a legal victory,” said Wahid Sheikh, “it’s a moral one. It is justice — delayed, but not denied.”
