Supreme Court Halts Bombay HC Decision on 2006 Mumbai Train Bombings

The Supreme Court has intervened in the 2006 Mumbai train bombings case, staying the Bombay High Court’s decision to acquit all twelve individuals previously convicted. The Maharashtra government petitioned the Supreme Court following the High Court’s ruling, which overturned the earlier sentencing by a special court. The bombings, which occurred in 2006, resulted in the deaths of 189 people. The Solicitor General of India, representing Maharashtra, emphasized the urgency of the matter, highlighting its gravity and the need for immediate attention from the bench led by the Chief Justice of India, B.R. Gavai. The High Court’s decision reversed a 2015 special court judgment, which had sentenced five individuals to death and seven to life imprisonment under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The accused have been incarcerated for approximately 18 years. Notably, while the special court had acquitted one person, the state did not appeal this acquittal.