
2006 Mumbai train blasts: Nothing about al-Qaeda manual, says Bombay HC; after 19 years behind bars, 11 men acquitted
Over two decades ago, bombs planted on first-class compartments exploded during the peak evening commute at seven locations on the Western Railway suburban network.
You Can Also Check:
Mumbai AQI
|
Weather in Mumbai
|
Bank Holidays in Mumbai
|
Public Holidays in Mumbai
They ripped metal and lives between Khar Road and Santacruz, Bandra and Khar Road, Jogeshwari and Mahim Junction, Mira Road and Bhayander, Matunga and Mahim Junction, and Borivli.
The prosecution case was of sophisticated explosive RDX being used, of accused being members of terror outfits like SIMI who received training in Pakistan, and of 15 wanted accused, mainly Pakistanis.
While the trial court's special MCOCA judge Y D Shinde in 2015 said special public prosecutor Raja Thakare had rightly described the accused as "merchants of death" and Thakare argued that the trial verdict could not be dislodged and the noose be confirmed, the HC noted the prosecution case had unravelled completely.
The HC also held that the prosecution failed to prove what kind of explosive was used. It said no importance can be attached to claims of recovery of RDX, circuit boards and detonators, as prosecution failed to prove custody chain before analysis.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
15 most beautiful women in the world
Topgentlemen.com
Undo
The dozen men were in prison all along since their arrests in 2006. While one of them died in 2021, the 11 whose appeals were allowed joined on Monday via video-conferencing from prisons across the state, including Pune's Yerawada and prisons in Nashik, Amravati and Nagpur.
"Bahut bahut shukriya Sir," said a convict, in white prison uniform with a white topi, on video conference from Yerawada, when defence lawyer Yug Chaudhri, conveyed to them in Hindi that they all stood freed.
The HC, in a detailed analysis of the case and evidence on record, said while "prosecution has referred to Al-Qaeda Manual for many things, nothing is brought on record about it."
The prosecution case was that wanted accused Azam Cheema alias Babaji, a Pakistani national, and two of the accused given death sentence as planters had conspired since 1999 to wage war against the govt of India and were in touch with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
Conspiracy meetings were held in Bandra and one accused brought six Pakistanis to Mumbai in 2006, ATS had said. HC wondered why no CDRs were brought on record. "The alleged connection of the accused with Azam Cheema and members of LeT could have been established with the help of CDRs," HC said.
The HC classified prosecution witnesses in four categories: for identification, eyewitnesses of bomb assembly, of conspiracy, and taxi drivers who allegedly ferried two planters.
The court discarded their testimonies as doubtful. For one who claimed to have been to a planter's (A3, an alleged 'jihadist') house where he allegedly saw a few Pakistanis whose names he recalled but did not know what the meeting was for, the HC, doubting his credibility, said that "at the same time, he could not recollect the name of a particular dancer, with whom he had a close relationship for over a month in the same year.
"
Kamal Ansari, given death sentence by the trial judge, died in 2021. He too stood acquitted by HC. Apart from convicts' appeals, before the HC was the state's reference for death sentence confirmation, as required by law for capital punishment to become executable. Thakare and Avdhoot Chimalkar for the state argued the appeals were fit to be dismissed. The conviction relied primarily on the confessions of 11 accused under the stringent MCOCA Act to nail them.
Before HC, an alleged planter Naved Khan, from Nagpur prison, had said he suffered "needlessly for 19 years" and while lives were lost, innocents could not be hanged.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
35 minutes ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk tweeted (and deleted) Donald Trump was in Epstein files
He helped him get elected, got a cabinet post, donated $300 million, and even let his son attend White House dinners. Then came the breakup—and the tweet Musk later deleted: Donald Trump was in the Epstein files. And now we know—he was right. Pam Bondi privately told Trump in May that his name appeared in the DOJ's Epstein document review. Trump denied it. The Justice Department buried it. And Musk—who'd already torched the bromance—turned out to be the one telling the truth. TL;DR In June 2025, Elon Musk posted (then deleted) a tweet suggesting Donald Trump's name was in the unreleased Epstein files. On July 23, it was confirmed that Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy privately briefed Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in the DOJ's Epstein-related documents. The DOJ declined to release the full files, citing the presence of child pornography and sensitive victim information. Trump had publicly denied being informed; Bondi's private briefing contradicts that. The incident has deepened the rift between Musk and Trump, further fracturing the Republican base. The Deleted Tweet Was Right When Elon Musk posted a cryptic tweet in June implying Donald Trump might be named in the unreleased Epstein files, it was quickly dismissed by Trump allies as conspiratorial innuendo. Musk later deleted the tweet. Now it's official: the deleted tweet wasn't a tantrum—it was a tip-off. Musk was right. According to senior administration officials, Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy informed President Trump in May 2025 that his name appeared multiple times in the Justice Department's trove of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents. The White House briefing reportedly included mentions of many prominent individuals, not just Trump. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it. Play Game Undo Bondi characterised the references as unverified hearsay and said no evidence of criminal wrongdoing was found. Despite this, the Justice Department chose not to release the remaining files. In a statement published on July 7, the department said much of the unreleased material contained child pornography or sensitive victim information that would be sealed in court. The memo also stated no 'client list' was discovered and that the files included no basis for further investigations into uncharged third parties. But once it became clear that Trump's name was in fact among the documents, the decision to withhold them has come under fresh scrutiny. Trump Denies, DOJ Contradicts On July 15, when asked by an ABC News journalist whether Pam Bondi had informed him about his name appearing in the Epstein files, Trump replied: 'No, no, she's—she's given us just a very quick briefing.' That denial doesn't hold up. Senior officials now confirm Trump was explicitly told about the mentions during the May meeting at the White House—contradicting his public claim. The revelation has triggered political fallout—not just for Trump but also for Bondi and the Justice Department. Critics from across the spectrum have accused the administration of suppressing information for political reasons, especially given Trump's 2024 campaign pledge to declassify all Epstein-related documents in full. The Bromance That Blew Up The confirmation also marks the sharpest rupture yet in Musk's once-close relationship with Trump. After endorsing him in 2024, Musk donated $300 million to GOP operations and was appointed head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). He was frequently spotted at fundraisers and high-level events, with his son even attending White House dinners. But by early 2025, the alliance soured. Musk criticised Trump's tariffs, immigration policy, and his flagship 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which gutted EV subsidies. In May, Musk resigned from DOGE. Weeks later came the Epstein tweet—short-lived but, as it turns out, accurate. Trump retaliated by threatening federal contracts with Musk's companies. MAGA influencers turned on him. But the facts now suggest the real betrayal wasn't the tweet—it was the administration's silence. No Charges, Just Chaos To be clear, DOJ officials continue to assert that Trump is not under investigation. Mentions in the Epstein files, they say, do not amount to criminal evidence. The materials reportedly include guest lists, correspondence, and unverifiable claims—nothing actionable. Still, the political cost is high. A 2023 Journal of Interpersonal Violence study found that 78% of Americans believe the Epstein case involved a cover-up to shield powerful figures. The decision to suppress more files, coupled with Trump's denial, has only intensified that perception. Cover-Up or Cleanup? DOJ Faces Heat The fallout has reached inside the administration itself. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino reportedly clashed with Bondi behind closed doors, accusing her of eroding public trust. Bondi, for her part, denies any wrongdoing and maintains the DOJ acted to protect victims and follow federal law. The DOJ has since petitioned a federal court to consider releasing limited grand jury testimony, but officials admit the odds of approval are low. Meanwhile, Musk has not commented publicly since the WSJ's July report—but he hasn't needed to. The facts have done the talking. FAQ Was Trump named in the Epstein files? Yes. Attorney General Pam Bondi and her deputy briefed Trump in May 2025 that his name appeared multiple times in DOJ-reviewed Epstein-related materials. Is Donald Trump under investigation? No. The DOJ has made clear that mentions in the files were not treated as criminal evidence and do not indicate wrongdoing. Why didn't the DOJ release the full Epstein files? The department cited the presence of child pornography and the need to protect victims' identities. A memo released on July 7 stated there was no Epstein 'client list' and no further files merited public disclosure. Did Trump publicly deny being told his name appeared in the documents? Yes. On July 15, Trump told ABC News he had only received a 'quick briefing' and was not told about any references to himself. Did Elon Musk make this claim before it was confirmed? Yes. In early June, Musk posted a tweet suggesting Trump was named in the Epstein files. He later deleted it. The claim was confirmed weeks later. Is Musk facing legal action for the post? No. Trump has not taken any legal action against Musk over the tweet.


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
"No conclusive leads yet": Odisha police on teen's burning case
Four days after a 15-year-old girl alleged that she was set on fire by three unidentified men on motorcycles in Odisha's Puri district , police have found no supporting evidence to confirm the incident. According to a senior police official, there is currently no proof validating the girl's claims or the FIR. Investigators have examined CCTV footage from a 2-kilometre radius, spoken to local witnesses, and conducted forensic examinations of the area, but no signs of motorcycle movement or presence were found at the scene of the alleged crime. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Management others Public Policy Product Management Finance Data Science MCA Design Thinking Technology Leadership Data Science healthcare Others Operations Management Cybersecurity Data Analytics Healthcare Degree PGDM Digital Marketing MBA Artificial Intelligence Project Management CXO Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK GMPBE India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK General Management Programme India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 Months IIM Calcutta CERT-IIMC APSPM India Starts on undefined Get Details The teenager, said to be deeply traumatised, is not in a condition to provide further details, which could shed light on the incident. She was recently airlifted to AIIMS Delhi from AIIMS Bhubaneswar, and is currently being treated in the burn ICU. Doctors confirmed she has undergone surgery to manage her injuries. Dr. Rima Dada, professor in-charge of the media cell at AIIMS Delhi, said, 'The patient was critical and on oxygen support.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Unleash Your Creativity with Adobe - The Ultimate Design Partner Undo Due to the lack of corroborative evidence, police are holding off on drawing conclusions and are awaiting the girl's recovery to collect a clearer statement. A key witness who was nearby during the incident also stated that no motorcycle was seen around that time. Initially, the investigation relied on the teenager's account and her mother's complaint, which accused three unknown men of attacking the girl with a flammable substance. However, with no definitive leads, police are now considering all possible scenarios. Multiple people, including locals, known associates of the girl, and individuals with criminal records, have been questioned, but authorities have yet to uncover any breakthrough. Live Events Puri Superintendent of Police Pinak Mishra said, 'One must not speculate or attribute motives until the investigation reaches a more advanced stage. No conclusions can be drawn until solid evidence is obtained.' [With TOI inputs]

Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
From remote hills to growing towns Uttarakhand's infrastructure tells a story of transformation.
'In Contact With Pakistan...': Gujarat ATS Arrests 4 Al-Qaeda Terrorists, Op Sindoor Docs Recovered The Gujarat ATS has arrested four men — Fardeen Shaikh (Ahmedabad), Mohd Faiq (Delhi), Zeeshan Ali (Noida), and Saifullah Qureshi (Modasa) — for links to AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent). They allegedly ran Instagram accounts promoting terror, spreading anti-India, pro-Pakistan content, and advocating Shariat over democracy. One was found with a sword and Operation Sindoor-linked material. Mohd Faiq had ties to Pakistani Instagram accounts sharing 'jihadi' content. UAPA and BNS sections have been invoked. Two accused are on 14-day remand, two will be produced in court. ATS recovered provocative material meant to incite communal discord. #gujarat #ats #alqaeda #antiterrorism #operationsindoor #indiasecurity #counterterrorism #radicalization #nationalsecurity #indiapakistan #lawandorder #toi #toibharat 16.6K views | 13 hours ago