Mumbai High Court Acquits All 12 Accused in 2006 Train Blast Case
In a landmark ruling with far-reaching implications for India&rsquo;s criminal justice system, the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings case. The division bench, comprising Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse, set aside the 2015 convictions by the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, citing lack of reliable evidence and serious procedural lapses during the investigation.
The 2006 serial bombings, which targeted seven Mumbai local trains during evening peak hours on 11 July, claimed 189 lives and injured over 800 commuters. It was one of the deadliest terror attacks in India&rsquo;s railway history. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) had arrested and prosecuted the 12 accused under multiple charges including conspiracy, terrorism, and murder under IPC, UAPA, and MCOCA.
However, after a detailed review of the evidence, witness testimonies, and investigative processes, the High Court held that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court observed inconsistencies in confessional statements, contradictions in forensic links, and concerns about the voluntariness of custodial confessions&mdash;many of which formed the backbone of the prosecution's case.
"Criminal jurisprudence is built on the foundation that it is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer," the bench noted in its oral observations while pronouncing the verdict, underscoring the principle of presumption of innocence and the need for unimpeachable evidence in capital cases.
The acquitted men, who have spent between 10 to 17 years in custody, are now expected to seek compensation for wrongful imprisonment. Human rights lawyers and civil liberties groups welcomed the verdict, calling it a "long-delayed course correction", while raising fresh concerns about the conduct of anti-terror investigations and the use of special laws like MCOCA and UAPA.
The state government may consider an appeal in the Supreme Court. A decision on this is awaited. Meanwhile, legal observers believe the verdict could lead to a re-evaluation of investigative protocols in terrorism cases and bring renewed focus on safeguards against custodial abuse and coerced confessions.
The judgment, which spans several hundred pages, is being seen as a major test case for judicial scrutiny of terror-related prosecutions in India. It also raises serious questions about the role of the ATS and the systemic checks on prosecutorial overreach.
Conclusion:
The acquittal of all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings not only changes the legal trajectory of one of India&rsquo;s most high-profile terror cases but also signals a deeper reckoning with the intersection of national security and individual rights. As the legal dust settles, the case may well become a turning point in how the Indian justice system navigates the fragile balance between security imperatives and constitutional guarantees.

Mumbai Subarb train after the blast in 2006 (file photos)

Mumbai High Court overturns all 12 convictions in landmark judgment on 2006 serial blasts

2006 Mumbai Blast Case: All 12 Accused Acquitted

Mumbai High Court overturns all 12 convictions in landmark judgment on 2006 serial blasts

July 21, 2025 | 16:31 IST