Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar reacts to the Supreme Court verdict on the 7/11 Mumbai Train Blasts, stating no innocent should be punished, no guilty spared in terror cases.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court’s recent intervention in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case has reignited political and legal debates across Maharashtra and the country. With the top court staying the Bombay High Court’s controversial acquittal of all 12 accused, attention swiftly shifted to the state government’s stance, and a particularly nuanced remark from Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Speaking to reporters soon after the Supreme Court’s stay order, Ajit Pawar remarked,
“Some innocent people were also trapped in this case… No innocent should be punished, and no guilty should be let off.”
While the statement appears to balance the scales of justice, it has been perceived by many as a subtle departure from the state government’s firm stance of appealing the Bombay High Court’s judgment.
As the Maharashtra government itself moved the Supreme Court challenging the acquittal, Pawar’s words, though couched in neutrality, raise questions about political signalling, especially ahead of the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) elections. Pawar said,
“The government has decided to appeal against the Bombay High Court’s verdict… Our Chief Minister had made the stance clear… We will present good lawyers in the Supreme Court and identify the shortcomings in the High Court proceedings.”
The Bombay High Court had overturned the convictions made by the special MCOCA court, which had sentenced five accused to death and seven others to life imprisonment. The acquittal was based on key observations:
- Confessions were likely coerced.
- Witnesses were deemed unreliable.
- Physical evidence, including explosives, was considered vulnerable to tampering.
Mr. Pawar said,
“We cannot say much about the Supreme Court’s order. Some innocent people were also trapped in this case… We believe no one should face injustice… But those who are guilty must be punished… We are not against anyone… But we do not support anyone either.”
Among the accused were individuals from varied backgrounds, ranging from a software engineer to a chicken seller, allegedly linked to the banned outfit SIMI and accused of assisting Pakistani terrorists in the blasts that killed 189 people and injured over 800.
Ajit Pawar’s calibrated comments come at a time when political parties are gearing up for the high-stakes BMC elections. His remarks, acknowledging potential wrongful arrests while reaffirming justice for the victims, may be aimed at broadening his appeal among various voter segments, including minority communities and civil rights advocates.
This isn’t the first time Pawar has stirred debate. His earlier suggestion that non-Marathi residents simply express willingness to learn Marathi to defuse language tensions also attracted attention. Both instances show a pattern of subtle divergence from hardline positions, possibly indicating a broader political strategy. He said,
“The language of the state you live in should be respected… From Maharashtra to Jammu and Kashmir, everyone should be proud of their mother tongue… But what is going on in the name of language at present… People living here who do not know Marathi — they should say politely that ‘We do not know Marathi, we are learning it’. If you say this, then there will be no problem.”
Case Title: The State of Maharashtra v. Kamal Ahmed Mohd. Vakil Ansari and Ors
CONFIRMATION CASE NO. 02 OF 2015
READ JUDGMENT HERE
Click Here to Read More Reports On 7/11 Mumbai Train Blasts
