The Bombay High Court has voiced its concerns over the Maharashtra government’s approach to the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case, specifically pointing out the state’s perceived lack of seriousness in the matter of appointing a Special Public Prosecutor (SPP).
Senior advocate Raja Thakare, who had previously conducted the trial before the sessions court, was initially designated as the SPP. However, he later expressed his reluctance to continue in the role, stating his
“disinclination to continue as the SPP.”
This led the state to seek adjournments in earlier hearings, aiming to appoint a new SPP. In a subsequent move, the state once again reached out to Thakare, hoping he would reconsider and represent the government in the cases as the SPP. Despite this effort, the state informed the court that
“nothing happened after this,”
and the terms of this proposed appointment were still
“under consideration.”
The gravity of the case in question is profound. On July 11, 2006, Mumbai’s suburban rail network was rocked by RDX blasts at seven different locations, leading to the tragic loss of 189 lives and injuring 800 others. After a prolonged trial that spanned eight years, 12 out of the 13 accused were convicted. In a 2015 verdict by the Special Court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA), five of these 12 convicts were handed the death sentence. However, one of these five individuals succumbed to COVID-19 in 2021. The remaining convicts were meted out life imprisonment sentences.
Given the severity of the sentences, the State of Maharashtra felt compelled to approach the High Court, seeking
“confirmation of the death sentence as required under the law.”
Simultaneously, all the convicted individuals have lodged appeals, challenging their respective sentences.
The court’s remarks serve as a stark reminder of the importance of timely and decisive action in high-profile cases, emphasizing the need for the state to demonstrate a more committed and proactive stance.
