The Bombay High Court overturned convictions against twelve defendants linked to the deadly 2006 Mumbai railway attacks. Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S. Chandak delivered the ruling that freed all convicted individuals from prison sentences. The court determined that prosecution evidence failed to meet safety standards for maintaining guilty verdicts. Five defendants had received death penalties while seven others served life terms before their release. The original attacks killed 189 people and wounded more than 800 commuters during evening rush hours.
Special courts had convicted the men in 2015 after a lengthy investigation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad. The defendants claimed police officers coerced confessions through physical abuse during interrogation sessions. Investigators alleged Pakistani intelligence services and militant groups orchestrated the coordinated bombing campaign. Seven pressure cooker devices containing RDX and ammonium nitrate caused the train explosions across multiple stations. The high court ruling represents a significant setback for law enforcement agencies after nineteen years of legal proceedings.
Special courts had convicted the men in 2015 after a lengthy investigation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad. The defendants claimed police officers coerced confessions through physical abuse during interrogation sessions. Investigators alleged Pakistani intelligence services and militant groups orchestrated the coordinated bombing campaign. Seven pressure cooker devices containing RDX and ammonium nitrate caused the train explosions across multiple stations. The high court ruling represents a significant setback for law enforcement agencies after nineteen years of legal proceedings.
