Bombay High Court Acquits 12 Accused in 2006 Mumbai Train Blasts

Nineteen years after the catastrophic train blasts in Mumbai that claimed over 180 lives, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 accused, citing a lack of conclusive evidence and flawed prosecution methods. This decision dismantles previous convictions of death and life imprisonment passed by a special court in 2015.

The court's ruling has sparked significant backlash, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressing intent to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court. The verdict has highlighted deficiencies in the prosecution's case, particularly the dubious reliability of confessions deemed coerced and inadmissible.

Families of the victims, like Chirag Chauhan, a survivor of the blasts, have voiced disappointment over the acquittal, describing it as a failure of justice. The ruling also questions the role of investigative agencies, bringing into focus the accountability of law enforcement in high-stakes terror cases.

(With inputs from agencies.)