Justice Prevails: Bombay HC Acquits 7/11 Blasts Accused as Maharashtra Govt Challenges RDX Recovery Claims in Supreme Court
The Maharashtra government has moved to the Supreme Court to challenge a Bombay High Court ruling that acquitted all 12 suspects involved in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, which claimed over 180 lives. The state’s appeal, filed on July 22-one day after the High Court’s controversial decision-argues that the acquittal was based on a flawed assessment, particularly regarding the recovery of RDX, an explosive, from one of the accused. The government contends that the High Court dismissed this critical piece of evidence on what it termed a “hyper-technical ground”—specifically, the absence of a lac seal on the seized explosives.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s administration is urging the Supreme Court to act swiftly. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state, sought an urgent hearing from a bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai, which has agreed to hear the appeal on July 24. The 2006 attacks, which targeted the Mumbai local train system, involved seven explosions at various locations along the western rail line, injuring hundreds and leaving profound scars on the city’s psyche.
In their plea, the Maharashtra government raises critical objections to the High Court’s findings, asserting that due procedural safeguards were indeed followed under Section 23(2) of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The appeal points out that senior officers, including prosecution witness Anami Roy, sanctioned the recovery of evidence, and it claims the High Court overlooked these approvals even with no significant contradictions in the prosecution’s case.
A particular focus of the appeal is the High Court’s dismissal of the 500 grams of RDX recovered from one of the accused, based solely on its lack of a lac seal. The state argues that this reasoning is inappropriate given that RDX is a highly flammable substance, which would not have been sealed for safety reasons. “The Hon’ble High Court disbelieved this recovery on a hyper-technical ground that the RDX seized was not sealed with a lac seal,” the plea states.
Furthermore, the Maharashtra government questions the High Court’s rejection of a confession made by one of the accused. The court found the confession lacking in detail, particularly regarding the identities and origins of alleged Pakistani co-conspirators. The state’s plea emphasizes that such omissions do not diminish the confession’s overall credibility, stating, “The entire confessional statement has been disbelieved, which is an unacceptable conclusion.”
The appeal also highlights the High Court’s dismissal of recovered detonators and explosive granules from another suspect. The state argues these items are not easily obtainable or plantable, thus their evidentiary value should not have been dismissed over minor technical grounds. Moreover, the government claims the High Court overlooked vital findings regarding the charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other relevant laws.
The government’s plea counters the defence’s argument that the accused did not qualify as operating under “continuing unlawful activity” as per the MCOCA due to prior offenses being punishable by less than three years. Citing past Supreme Court rulings, the appeal asserts that the conspiracy and scale of the Mumbai attack fall squarely within MCOCA provisions.
Initially, a special court sentenced five of the convicted to death and imposed life sentences on the remaining seven. Tragically, one death-row convict passed away in 2021. As the state seeks to overturn the High Court’s decision, the case continues to evolve, presenting a critical juncture for justice in one of India’s most devastating terrorism offenses.
Original Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/711-blasts-acquittal-bombay-hc-disbelieved-recovery-of-rdx-on-technical-ground-maharashtra-govt-tells-supreme-court-11753230071941.html
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Publish Date: 2025-07-23 06:04:00
