2006 Mumbai Train Blasts: Bombay High Court Acquits All 12 Accused Citing Lack of Evidence

National News: The Bombay High Court on Monday gave a major verdict in the 2006 Mumbai local train serial blast case. The court acquitted all 12 accused, declaring them not guilty. In the blasts, 189 people lost their lives and over 800 were injured. This decision has come nearly 19 years after the deadly incident that shook Mumbai’s suburban railway system.

Serious Issues in Investigation and Trial

The judgment was delivered by a division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Gauri Godse. The court said there were serious problems in both the investigation and the trial. According to the judges, the main witnesses were not reliable, the identification parade was doubtful, and confessions were taken by using force and torture.

Doubts Over Witness Statements

The court also noted that several witnesses remained silent for many years and then suddenly identified the accused. The judges said this behavior is unusual and raises questions. The defense had earlier argued that the identification parade was not conducted properly.

The court also pointed out that one of the witnesses had given statements in several other criminal cases, such as the Ghatkopar blast case. Because of this, his testimony could not be trusted. Many other witnesses also failed to explain how they were suddenly able to identify the accused after so many years.

Problems in Handling of Evidence

The court found that the prosecution failed to prove whether important materials like RDX and other explosives were kept safe and untampered with until they reached the forensic lab. Moreover, many key witnesses were not even called during the trial.

Relief After Nearly 20 Years

It is important to remember that on July 11, 2006, seven serial blasts took place in Mumbai’s local trains during the busy evening hours. The attacks caused widespread fear and panic. In this case, 13 people were arrested. One of them died during the trial, and the remaining 12 were convicted in 2015.

However, due to a lack of proper evidence and serious mistakes in the investigation, the Bombay High Court has now acquitted all 12 remaining accused.

What Happens Next?

This verdict may lead to fresh discussions on how terror cases are investigated and prosecuted in India. Keeping innocent people in jail for many years raises serious concerns about the justice system. Human rights groups and legal experts are now demanding reforms in the way such cases are handled.

This judgment by the Bombay High Court reminds us that justice should not only be done but should also be seen to be done—and it must be based on fair investigations and strong, reliable evidence.