Day-to-Day Hearings Begin for Mumbai Train Blasts Case Appeals

The Bombay High Court initiated day-to-day hearings on appeals in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. A special bench will hear appeals from convicts and the state government seeking death penalty confirmations. The state government is contesting sentences for 12 people found guilty in 2015, with hearings expedited by a new dedicated bench.

The Bombay High Court on Monday started day-to-day hearings on appeals related to the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case. The terror attack 18 years ago had devastated the city's Western Railway network, resulting in over 180 deaths and numerous injuries.

A special bench, comprising Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak, is set to hear appeals from the convicts challenging their sentences while the state government seeks confirmation of death penalties for five out of the 12 convicted individuals. The remaining convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment.

On Monday, the bench announced that hearings would be conducted daily during the morning session. Convicts will be produced before the Court via video conferencing from their respective jails.

In September 2015, a trial court convicted 12 individuals for their roles in the bombings, prompting the state government to appeal for confirmation of death penalties at the High Court. The convicts also lodged appeals contesting their sentences. Despite previous presentations before 11 different benches since 2015, progress had been stalled until the recent establishment of a dedicated bench to accelerate the hearings.

Special public prosecutor Raja Thakare began his arguments by recounting the horrifying events of the day of the blasts, detailing the extensive damage and casualties. Advocate Payoshi Roy, representing some of the convicts, argued that the accused were innocent and wrongfully implicated.