The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday confirmed the death penalty for 38 convicts and life imprisonment for 11 others in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case. The court also directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the families of those killed, Rs 5 lakh to victims who sustained grievous injuries, and Rs 1 lakh to those who suffered simple injuries.
Details of the Verdict
A division bench of Justices A S Supehia and M R Mengdey upheld the trial court's 2022 order that had sentenced 38 accused to death and 11 to life imprisonment. The court observed that the conspiracy was hatched with the intention to terrorize the nation and that the convicts acted in a planned manner. The bench also rejected the appeals of the convicts, stating that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
Timeline and Impact
The Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts occurred on July 26, 2008, when 21 low-intensity bombs exploded across the city within 70 minutes, killing 56 people and injuring over 200. The blasts were carried out by the Indian Mujahideen. The trial began in 2009 and concluded in 2022, with 49 of the 78 accused being convicted. The high court's confirmation of the sentences is seen as a major step in delivering justice to the victims.
According to the prosecution, the blasts were part of a larger conspiracy to create communal disharmony. The court noted that the convicts had undergone training in bomb-making and had procured explosives and other materials for the attacks. The verdict was welcomed by victims' families, who had been waiting for closure for nearly two decades.
Compensation and Reactions
The court directed the Gujarat government to pay compensation within two months. The state government had earlier submitted that it had already paid interim relief to the victims. The compensation order aims to provide financial support to the families of the deceased and the injured. Reacting to the verdict, advocate S M Vohra, who represented some of the victims, said, "This is a historic judgment that reaffirms the rule of law. The court has sent a strong message that terrorism will not be tolerated."
The high court also upheld the life sentences of 11 convicts who were found guilty of lesser charges. The court directed that the convicts serving life imprisonment would not be eligible for remission until they complete 20 years of actual imprisonment. The verdict is expected to be challenged in the Supreme Court by some of the convicts.
