• Source:JND
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Mumbai Train Blast 2006: In a major move, the Apex Court on Thursday stayed Bombay High Court’s judgement of acquitting all 12 convicts in the 2006 Mumbai Train Bomb Blast. However, the Supreme Court further said that the stay order will not affect the accused person's release from jail. 

A Bench of Justice M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh of the Supreme Court added that the decision of Bombay High Court should not be treated as a precedent and issued a notice to all the accused.

The development of the 2006 Mumbai Train Blast came while hearing a petition by the Maharashtra government challenging the High Court's verdict of acquittal of all 12 accused.

Earlier on Monday, the Bombay High Court had acquitted all 12 accused, saying “the prosecution had utterly failed to prove the case and it was hard to believe the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside” 189 people were killed in Mumbai train serial blasts.

While appearing for Maharashtra Government in Apex Court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said: "I am seeking stay, not to bring them back to jail. Certain findings of laws will affect the MCOCA trial. May consider saying they may not be required in jail."

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Further, the Supreme Court said since all the accused were released, there was no question of sending them back to jail. “However, on submissions of learned SG, the impugned judgment will not be treated as precedent," it said.

Justice Sundresh said that he read the case files and learnt that some of the accused are Pakistan nationals. The court also recovered explosives, arms and maps during the investigation, but it appeared to be unrelated to the blasts. The prosecution could not prove what kind of bombs were used in the blast.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the Bombay HC’s decision ‘shocking’. He said, “I have discussed with the lawyers, and the high court verdict will be challenged in the Supreme Court.”

What Was The 2006 Mumbai Train Bomb Blast Case?

On July 11, 2006, a serial train blast ripped through separate Mumbai local trains in 11 minutes. The first blast took place at 6:24 PM and the last at 6:34 PM amid the rush hour in Mumbai local trains. The bombs were placed in the AC compartment of Mumbai local train from Churchgate. They hey exploded near the stations of Matunga Road, Mahim Junction, Bandra, Khar Road, Jogeshwari, Bhayandar and Borivali.

(With Agency Inputs)

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