In a significant development in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case, the Supreme Court of India on July 24, 2025, stayed the Bombay High Court’s recent judgment that acquitted all 12 accused, who were earlier convicted and sentenced by a special MCOCA court. However, the top court clarified that the accused will not be required to return to prison.
The bench comprising Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N.K. Singh issued a notice in the criminal appeals filed by the State of Maharashtra, challenging the High Court’s judgment delivered on July 21, 2025.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, told the bench that although he was not seeking the immediate surrender of the released accused, certain observations in the Bombay High Court's judgment could impact other trials under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA).
"Your lordships may consider saying, the judgment is stayed, however, they will not be required to come back to the prison,"
— Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the court.
Acknowledging this concern, the Supreme Court stated in its order:
“We have been informed that all the respondents have been released and there is no question of bringing them back to the prison. However, taking note of the submission made by the SG on the question of law, we are inclined to hold that the impugned judgment shall not be treated as a precedent. To that extent, there is a stay of the impugned judgment.”
Background of the Case:
The 7/11 Mumbai train bombings, which occurred on July 11, 2006, were one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in India. Seven bombs exploded on Mumbai’s Western Railway local trains, killing 189 people and injuring over 820.
The case was initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). A special MCOCA court had convicted 12 individuals in 2015. Out of these:
- 5 were sentenced to death:
- Kamal Ansari
- Mohammad Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh
- Ehtesham Qutubuddin Siddiqui
- Naveed Hussain Khan
- Asif Khan
- 7 were given life imprisonment:
- Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari
- Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi
- Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh
- Mohammed Sajid Margub Ansari
- Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh
- Suhail Mehmood Shaikh
- Zameer Ahmed Latiur Rehman Shaikh
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However, in a dramatic turn, a Bombay High Court bench led by Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak quashed the conviction. The judges held that the prosecution had failed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
“The accused were tortured by ATS officers, who were under pressure to solve the case.”— Bombay High Court observed in its judgment.
The High Court’s ruling led to the release of all 12 accused, which prompted the State of Maharashtra to approach the Supreme Court.
Case Title: The State of Maharashtra v. Mohd Faisal Ataur Rahman Shaikh and Ors", is pending under SLP(Crl) No. 10780-10791/2025.