Latest news with #MaharashtraControlofOrganisedCrimesAct
Mint
6 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
SC stays Bombay HC order on 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case; no stay on release of 12 acquitted
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay High Court's 21 July order in the 7/11 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. While it did not stay the release of all 12 acquitted individuals, the court ruled that 'the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent'. On 21 July, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 accused in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case of 2006. The high court quashed and set aside the judgment of a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court, which handed over the death sentence to five and life term to seven people accused of conspiring and executing the Mumbai train bomb blasts on 11 July 2006. A high court bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak then observed that 'the prosecution has utterly failed in establishing the case beyond reasonable doubts.' They said the evidence relied on by the prosecution was not conclusive in convicting the accused persons. Later, the State of Maharashtra challenged the Bombay High Court's judgment. Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the State of Maharashtra, told the bench that he was not seeking an order to direct the accused persons, who have been released from prison following the judgment, to surrender. However, Mehta requested a stay of the judgment, contending that some of the observations made by the High Court in the judgment can impact other pending trials under the MCOCA. 'Your lordships may consider saying, the judgment is stayed; however, they will not be required to come back to the prison,' SG was quoted by Live Law as saying. Following the government's appeal, the Supreme Court bench observed on Thursday, 24 July: 'We have been informed that all the respondents have been released and there is no question of bringing them back to the prison.' 'However, taking note of the submission made by the SG on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent. To that extent, there is a stay of the impugned judgment,' the Supreme Court said.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Supreme Court Pauses Order Acquitting 12 In Mumbai Train Blasts Case
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case. A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said the high court judgment shall not be treated as a precedent, and issued notice to all the accused in the case. The court, however, did not stay the release of the accused from prison. The developments came as the top court was hearing a petition by the Maharashtra government challenging the High Court verdict. More than 180 people were killed in the seven bomb blasts that ripped through separate Mumbai local trains within a span of 11 minutes on July 11, 2006. On Monday, the High Court had acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution had utterly failed to prove the case and it was "hard to believe the accused committed the crime". Appearing for the Maharashtra government in the top court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a stay on the verdict but did not press for a stay on the release of the acquitted persons. "I am seeking stay, not to bring them back to jail. Certain findings of laws will affect the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act) trial. May consider saying they may not be required in jail," he said. The court said since all the accused were released, there was no question of sending them back to the prison. "However, on submissions of learned SG, the impugned judgment will not be treated as precedent," it said. Justice Sundresh said he read the case files and learnt that some of the accused are Pakistani nationals. In its order earlier this week, the High Court bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak set aside a September 2015 judgment of the MCOCA court that had imposed the death penalty on five of the 12 accused persons and had sentenced the remaining seven to life. "The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside," it said. The court also said the explosives, arms and maps recovered during the investigation appeared to be unrelated to the blasts. The prosecution, it said, could not even prove what kind of bombs were used in the blasts. It subsequently ordered the release of all the accused if they are not wanted in any other case. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had described the acquittals as "shocking". "I have discussed with the lawyers, and the high court verdict will be challenged in the Supreme Court," he said. Rigged pressure cookers were used for the bombings to amplify the damage caused in 2006. The first blast occurred at 6.24 pm - rush hour due to people returning from work - and the last at 6.35 pm. The bombs were placed in first-class compartments of trains from Churchgate. They exploded near the stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali. In 2015, the special court of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act sentenced Faisal Sheikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Sidduqui and Naveed Khan to death. Seven other convicts Mohammed Sajid Ansari, Mohammed Ali, Dr Tanveer Ansari, Majid Shafi, Muzzammil Shaikh, Sohail Shaikh and Zamir Shaikh were sentenced to life imprisonment for being a part of the conspiracy.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
2006 Mumbai train blasts case: Supreme Court stays Bombay HC verdict acquitting all 12 accused
The Supreme Court is hearing the Maharashtra government's plea challenging the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting all 12 convicts in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts, which killed 189 people. Seeking an urgent hearing in the matter, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Maharashtra, had informed a bench presided by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, 'It's a serious matter from the government's point of view… There is an element of urgency.' On Monday, the Bombay High Court overturned the September 2015 judgment of a special court designated under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA), which had sentenced five convicts to death and given life term to seven in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts. The convicts have already spent over 18 years in jail. While the special court acquitted one person, the state government had not filed an appeal before the high court against the same. One person died while in prison.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Mistake...": Maharashtra Goes To Top Court Against Train Blasts Acquittals
The Maharashtra government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging yesterday's Bombay High Court's decision to acquit 12 persons who were accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. The plea was mentioned on Tuesday before a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai by Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, who requested that the plea be taken up urgently by the top court. The Court listed the matter for hearing on Thursday. Nineteen years after seven train blasts that killed more than 180 persons, the high court on Monday acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution utterly failed to prove the case and it was "hard to believe the accused committed the crime". The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), said the high court, failed to prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt. The high court set aside a September 2015 judgment of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court that had imposed the death penalty on 5 of the 12 accused persons and had sentenced the remaining 7 to life. In its damning indictment of the prosecution's case, the high court declared all confessional statements of the accused as inadmissible and suggested "copying". The Maharashtra government argued in its petition that the high court has recorded a "very peculiar observation in disbelieving the confession" of the fifth accused. The government has called it a mistake to not trust the important evidence on the recovery of RDX and detonator. "The High Court has disbelieved the recovery of 500 gms of RDX from Accused No 1on a hyper technical ground that the RDX which was seized was not sealed with a lac seal. It is worth noting that it was not sealed with Lac because RDX is a flammable high court has erred in disbelieving the recovery of RDX," said the government in its petition. Investigators said the bombs, made of RDX and ammonium nitrate, were placed inside pressure cookers and concealed in bags. The attacks were attributed to Pakistan-backed Islamic militants. The High Court, argued the state government, has committed a grave error in not accepting the arguments advanced by the trial court for sentencing the accused. "It has erred in acquitting the accused of all the charges including the UAPA," it said. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) filed charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The prosecution relied heavily on confessions, alleged recoveries, and circumstantial evidence - none of which stood up under the high court's scrutiny. "It is necessary to see that the accused were continuously engaged in activities prohibited by law, which are cognizable offences punishable with imprisonment for 3 years or more and in respect of which more than one charge sheet has to be filed in the competent court within the preceding period of 10 years and which have been tried by the competent court cognizance should have been taken," it said. Former Mumbai police commissioner A N Roy today expressed shock over the high court's acquittal of all 12 accused in the case, saying the probe into the case was conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in a professional manner where evidence was collected "honestly and truthfully". On the evening of July 11, 2006, bomb blasts took place at seven different places in the Mumbai local trains within just 11 minutes. In this incident, 189 people died, while more than 827 passengers were injured. The bombs were placed in first-class compartments of trains from Churchgate. They exploded near the stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali. A trial court in 2015 convicted 12 people in the blasts' case.
India.com
22-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
2006 Mumbai Train Blasts: Maharashtra Moves SC Against Acquittal Of All Accused
NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government has filed an appeal in the Supreme Court challenging yesterday's Bombay High Court's decision to acquit twelve persons who were accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. The plea was mentioned on Tuesday before a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai by Solicitor General of India (SGI) Tushar Mehta, who requested that the plea be taken up urgently by the top court. The Court listed the matter for hearing on Thursday, July 24. The High Court had on Monday acquitted the twelve accused persons by noting that the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) failed to prove the offences beyond a reasonable doubt. In doing so, the High Court set aside a September 2015 judgment of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court that had imposed the death penalty on 5 of the 12 accused persons and had sentenced the remaining 7 to life. Following the Bombay High Courts' decision, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis expressed shock and said that the Maharashtra government will challenge it in the Supreme Court. The case is listed for hearing before the CJI's bench on Thursday. On the evening of July 11, 2006, bomb blasts took place at seven different places in the Mumbai local trains within just 11 minutes. In this incident, 189 people died, while more than 827 passengers were injured. The bombs were placed in first-class compartments of trains from Churchgate. They exploded near the stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar, and Borivali. A trial court in 2015 convicted 12 people in the blasts' case.
