Mumbai,
21 July (HS): The 12 accused in the serial blasts in Mumbai on July 11, 2006,
have been released by the Bombay High Court on Monday. The Sessions Court on
September 30, 2015, awarded life imprisonment to 12 and death penalty to five.
The verdict was challenged in the High Court. Justice Anil Kolor and Justice
Shyam Chandak released them on Monday for want of adequate evidence against
them. The court mentioned that the evidence presented by the prosecutor's government
was not enough to believe that they were guilty.
The
serial RDX blasts in Mumbai killed 189 people and 827 were injured. The seven blasts
occurred within 11 minutes, shattering entire Mumbai. The order of the
Sessions Court was challenged in the High Court. Out of the 12 accused, one died
and 11 were released by the High Court. The hearing was completed in January, and the verdict, reserved by the High Court, was delivered on Monday.
The
Special Court under MOCCA in October 2015, had announced the death penalty for
five, and life imprisonment for seven accused in the case. Out of the accused
Kamal Ansari, Mohammad Faizal, Ataur Rahman Sheikh, Ehtesham Kutubuddin
Siddiqi, Navid Hussin Khan, and Asid Khan, Kamal Ansari died in 2021 in Nagpur
Jail due to COVID-19. The other accused granted life imprisonment
include Tanvir Ahmad Ansari, Mohmmad Majid Shafi, Sheikh Mohammad Ali Ala,
Mohammad Sajid Murgub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rahman Sheikh, Suhel Mehmood
Sheikh, and Jamir Ahmad Talifur Rahman Sheikh.
The
Government Pleader has failed to prove the allegations against the accused.
Even the explosives used were not known to the Government Pleader. The bombs,
guns, maps, etc, were submitted. However, the explosives used were not provided by
the prosecutor.
Senior
Counsel S Muralidhar, Yug Mohit Chaudhari, Nitya Ramkrishnan, and S Nagmuttu
argued for the accused. The High Court remarked that the Sessions Court made a
mistake in its verdict as the evidence was not enough to prove the guilt.
Special Government Prosecutor Raja Thakre, however, supported death punishment
to the accused as it fulfils the parameters is the ‘Rarest of Rare Case’.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar
