Bombay High Court acquits all 12 accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts citing lack of evidence

• The evidence, witness statements and what was recovered from the accused are not enough to convict them.
• The explosives used to make the bomb were not properly maintained. The sealing of evidence was also poor.
• The prosecution has also failed to bring on record the type of bombs used in the crime.
• Looking at the statements taken from the accused, it seems that they have been recorded forcibly.

There were 7 blasts from pressure cookers in the first class of the local train

On 11th July 2006, seven blasts took place one after another in Mumbai between 6:24 pm and 6:35 pm. All these blasts were carried out in the first class compartments of local trains on Mumbai’s Western Railway.

These blasts took place near Khar, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Mahim, Borivali, Matunga and Mira-Bhayander railway stations. The bombs planted in the trains were made of RDX, ammonium nitrate, fuel oil and nails, which were placed in seven pressure cookers and blown up using a timer.

Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Azam Cheema responsible for the blast

According to the police, in March 2006, Azam Cheema of Lashkar-e-Taiba had conspired for these blasts with the heads of two factions of SIMI and Lashkar in his house in Bahawalpur. Police had said that in May 2006, 50 youths were sent to a training camp in Bahawalpur. They were trained in making bombs and firing guns.

In 2006, 13 Pakistani citizens were caught, 5 were sentenced to death

The Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested the accused between July 20, 2006 and October 3, 2006. In November of the same year, the accused informed the court in writing that confessions were forcibly taken from them. 30 accused were named in the charge sheet. Of these, 13 were identified as Pakistani citizens.

After the case went on for nearly 9 years, the Special MCOCA Court gave its verdict on 11 September 2015. Out of the 13 accused, the court awarded death penalty to 5 convicts, life imprisonment to 7 and acquitted one accused.

In 2016, the accused approached the Bombay High Court, the case went on for 9 years

In 2016, the accused challenged this decision in the Bombay High Court and filed an appeal. In 2019, the Bombay High Court started hearing the appeals. The court said that detailed arguments and record would be reviewed in this case. The case remained pending in the High Court from 2023 to 2024, the hearing continued in pieces. In 2025, the High Court acquitted all 12 accused.