All 12 Convicts Acquitted In 2006 Mumbai Local Blasts Case

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00:00Dear viewers, 12 men who spent nearly two decades in jail for one of India's deadliest terror

00:06attacks have now been acquitted. On July 21st, 2025, that is today, the Bombay High Court

00:12overturned all convictions in the 2006 Mumbai train blast case, saying the prosecution failed

00:18to prove its case. Hello, I'm Tejas and you're watching Lokmed Times. In this video, we are

00:23going to take a detailed look at what happened, who these men are, and why the cult has taken

00:28this decision after 19 years. But before that, please do subscribe to our channel if you haven't

00:33already and press the bell icon to never miss an update.

00:37On the evening of July 11th, 2006, 7 bombs exploded within 11 minutes on Mumbai's suburban trains

00:44during peak hours. The bombs were placed inside pressure cookers in first-class compartments

00:49exploding as trains sped between stations from Matunga Road to Meera Road. The attacks

00:54killed 189 people and injured over 800. It was one of the worst terror attacks the city

01:00had seen since the 1993 bombings. In the weeks following the blasts, investigators alleged that

01:06Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba was behind the attacks with logistical help from banned Indian

01:12groups like SIMI. The Pakistani government denied these claims. Over 350 people were detained during

01:18the initial investigation. Formal charges were filed under stringent anti-terror laws including the

01:24Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act or Makoka. The trial itself was long and complex, stretching

01:31nearly a decade. In 2015, a special court convicted 12 men. Five were sentenced to death and seven were

01:38given life imprisonment for charges including murder, conspiracy and waging war against the nation.

01:44Those sentenced to death included Muhammad Faizal Attaur, Rahman Sheikh, Ahtisham Qutubiddin

01:50Siddiqui, Naveed Hussein Khan, Asif Khan and Kamal Ansari who later died in custody in 2021 due to COVID-19.

01:58The others including Tanvir Ahmed Ansari, Muhammad Mazid Shafi and others were given life terms.

02:04So why after 19 years has the Bombay High Court acquitted all the accused? The High Court examined the

02:10evidence, witness testimonies, confessions and procedural records presented during the trial.

02:16First, witness testimonies. The court found many witnesses could not reliably identify the accused.

02:22Identification parades were conducted years after the attacks and in some cases, witnesses who initially

02:28made no statements came forward much later with sudden identifications. The court noted these

02:35circumstances were abnormal. Second, confessional statements. The prosecution's case heavily

02:40relied on confessions made by the accused while in police custody. The court ruled that these

02:46confessions were inadmissible, observing evidence suggesting they were made under duress or torture.

02:52Third, forensic evidence. The prosecution had claimed recovery of explosives, pressure cookers and

02:58maps from the accused. However, the court found that the type of bomb used in this blast was never

03:04conclusively established and the recovered items could not definitely link to the attacks.

03:09Fourth, procedural lapses. The court criticized the investigation for not maintaining proper chains

03:15of custody for evidence and for failing to address gaps in witness statements and procedural delays during

03:21the probe. In its final observation, the High Court stated, the prosecution has utterly failed to prove

03:27the case against the accused. As a result, all convictions have been quashed and the court has ordered the

03:33release of the accused unless they are wanted in other cases. The acquittal has triggered mixed reactions.

03:40Families of the blast victims have expressed shock and disappointment, saying they have been denied

03:46justice after nearly two decades of waiting. Meanwhile, human rights groups have pointed out the dangers of

03:52relying on the confessions obtained under questionable circumstances and the need for meticulous,

03:57lawful investigation, especially in terror cases. The 2006 Mumbai train blast case was one of the most

04:04high profile terror cases in India's history and this acquittal marks a significant development in the

04:09country's legal landscape. It also raises questions about investigative practices, the treatment of suspects

04:16and the systems in place to ensure justice for victims while safeguarding the rights of the accused.

04:22This is a developing story and it remains to be seen if the state will file an appeal in the Supreme Court,

04:27or if there will be further legal steps in the coming months. For now, all 12 men who were once

04:33convicted of carrying out one of India's deadliest attacks are walking free after 19 years.

04:39That's all for now. Stay tuned to Lokmatize for further updates on this case. Thank you.

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