That dark day, July 11, 2006, still haunts the city of Mumbai. On that fateful day, 189 innocent people boarded local trains, dreaming of fulfilling their ambitions and securing a brighter future. Little did they know that within minutes, their lives would be tragically cut short.
Seven synchronised bomb blasts… 189 passengers killed and 824 grievously injured. Many of those injured are still enduring physical disabilities and chronic illnesses years later. Who will give them justice? Where should they turn now?
Some of the original accused arrested in connection with the blasts were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Now, 12 convicted individuals, who were once found guilty by a special court, have been acquitted by the Mumbai High Court because the prosecution failed to provide conclusive evidence against them.
This raises a flurry of painful questions in the minds of the families of the 189 deceased and the 824 injured survivors—many of whom lost limbs or live with permanent damage. Was the earlier verdict correct? Or is today’s acquittal the real face of justice?
The evidence remains largely the same. Although some of it may have weakened over time, the theories and testimonies presented in court at the time had led the Special MCOCA Court to convict these individuals under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for conspiring against the nation. However, all 12 have now been cleared of charges.
This isn’t a critique of the judiciary. No sarcastic jibes, no complaints about judges or delays. But what about the national identity that was tarnished by this incident? What about justice for the victims and their families who still believe in Indian democracy—a democracy that promises justice, even if delayed?
Can this case, which took the lives of 189 people, be considered insignificant?
After nearly nine years of proceedings, the Special MCOCA Court delivered its verdict on September 11 2015. Abdul Wahid Din Mohammad Shaikh (38) was the first to be acquitted due to lack of evidence, even though he was accused of harbouring Pakistani nationals. A key witness retracted their statement, weakening the prosecution’s case.
The remaining convicted individuals included: Kamal Ahmed Mohammad Vakil Ansari, Dr. Tanveer Ahmed Mohammad Ibrahim Ansari, Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rehman Shaikh, Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui, Mohammad Majid Mohammad Shafi, Sheikh Mohammad Ali Alam Sheikh, Mohammad Sajid Margub Ansari, Muzammil Ataur Rehman Shaikh, Sohail Mahmood Shaikh, Jameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Shaikh, Naveed Hussain Khan Rashid Hussain Khan Asif Khan. According to charges, Kamal Ansari, Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Khan, and Asif Khan played key roles in the blasts. They were convicted under Section 302 (murder), Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, and Section 3(1)(i) of MCOCA. Most were also charged under UAPA, the Explosives Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, and the Railway Act. Except for three, the rest were also found guilty of sedition under Section 124A of the IPC.
On July 11 2006, seven bomb explosions ripped through first-class coaches of Mumbai’s Western Line trains between 6:24 PM and 6:35 PM, near Khar, Bandra, Jogeshwari, Mahim, Borivali, Matunga, and Mira-Bhayander stations.
The bombs were made of RDX, ammonium nitrate, fuel oil, and nails, packed into pressure cookers, and detonated using timers.
30 accused names in the investigation, 13 arrested
The ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) charge sheet named 30 accused, 13 of whom were identified as Pakistani nationals. Thirteen suspects were arrested, while the rest remained at large. According to ATS, the plot was masterminded by Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Azam Cheema in Bahawalpur, Pakistan. About 20 kg of RDX was smuggled into India via Gujarat.
When the special court handed down sentences, scenes of jubilation broke out outside the court. The ATS team celebrated, congratulated one another, and took pictures. Retired IPS officer K.P. Raghuvanshi, involved in the Investigation, embraced colleagues, and ATS Chief Vivek Phansalkar praised the 135 officers who worked day and night to crack the case.
One can only imagine the emotional turmoil of the families of the 189 victims. Take, for example, Nandini, who was just 27 when she died in the Borivali blast. Her father Ramesh Naik fought a long legal battle for justice. The 2015 verdict brought him peace. But today, he feels betrayed.
Hemlata Dillaud was only 18 when her father died in the Mira Road blast. The government gave her a job as a peon, later promoted to booking clerk. On hearing of the acquittal, she broke down in tears, saying, “They should have been hanged. I lost my father at just 40 years of age.”
Each victim’s family has a sorrowful story like this. They feel cheated by the very justice system they trusted. Many cried openly upon hearing the latest verdict.
This latest decision, nearly 19 years after the tragedy, has effectively rendered 135 officers’ hard work meaningless. The once-victorious scenes outside court now seem hollow. The Mumbai High Court stated that the prosecution failed to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Therefore, the accused have been acquitted and are to be released immediately, unless they are wanted in other cases. And so began their release on the evening of July 21.
The Nation Demands to Know: Then Who Is Guilty? This was not a minor incident. Who carried out the 7/11 blasts? Will anyone ever be held accountable?
Earlier, the special court had sentenced five accused to death (Kamal Ansari, Mohammad Faisal Shaikh, Ehtesham Siddiqui, Naveed Khan, Asif Khan) and seven to life imprisonment (Tanveer Ansari, Mohammad Majid, Sheikh Mohammad, Sajid Ansari, Muzammil Shaikh, Suhail Shaikh, Jameer Shaikh).
Now some claim the accused were falsely implicated based on their religion, and that investigating agencies framed them. But if that were true, why was Abdul Wahid acquitted initially? Wouldn’t he have been convicted too if it were religious bias?
The judges then found these individuals guilty based on solid evidence. Now, the system seems to have let them go.
The acquittal of the 7/11 blast accused is not just a blow to victims’ families; it’s a slap in the face of our entire justice system. Who killed those 189 people? Why do culprits keep getting acquitted?
This is not the first time. Remember the 1993 Surat blast, where the Supreme Court acquitted all 11 accused? Or the 2006 Nanded blast, where nine were acquitted? Or the May 13 2008, Jaipur serial blasts, where the accused were released despite strong evidence?
Sadly, in case after case, those once declared guilty are later let go, while victims continue to wait for justice.
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