Bombay High Court Grants Bail to 2011 Mumbai Triple Blasts Accused After 14 Years in Jail
In a significant legal development, the Bombay High Court has granted bail to Nadim Akhtar Shaikh, an accused in the 2011 Mumbai triple blasts case, marking a decision that comes 14 years after his initial arrest. The court cited prolonged incarceration and substantial delays in the trial as key factors in its ruling.
Court's Decision and Conditions for Release
A bench comprising Justices Ajey S. Gadkari and Shyam C. Chandak allowed Shaikh's appeal, emphasizing that he had been incarcerated pending trial since his arrest in January 2012, with no immediate prospect of the trial concluding. The court directed his release upon furnishing a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh, along with one or more sureties of the same amount, among other specified conditions.
Shaikh, now nearly 29 years old, had approached the high court in May 2022 after a special court rejected his bail plea. He sought relief on the grounds of long incarceration without a completed trial, a plea that the high court found compelling given the circumstances.
Background of the 2011 Mumbai Triple Blasts Case
The case stems from three devastating explosions that rocked Mumbai on July 13, 2011, targeting Dadar, Zaveri Bazaar, and Opera House. The blasts resulted in 27 fatalities and injured over 100 individuals, sending shockwaves through the city.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) charged 11 individuals in connection with the attacks, including suspected operatives of the outlawed terror group Indian Mujahideen (IM). The accused faced charges under various laws, including criminal conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder, causing hurt, and relevant sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
Previous Bail Grants and Case Developments
This is not the first instance of bail being granted in this long-pending case. In November 2025, the Bombay High Court granted bail to another accused, Kafeel Ahmed, 65, nearly 13 years after his arrest. Additionally, one of the accused, Kawal Pthreja, an alleged hawala operator, died during the pendency of the trial.
Among those charged is Yasin Bhatkal, a key IM operative who is already facing the death penalty for the Hyderabad blasts. The case has seen multiple judicial interventions, including an order from another bench of the high court on October 30, 2023, which directed the trial court to expedite proceedings and conclude the case within a year, mandating regular hearings.
Investigation and Allegations
According to the ATS, Shaikh and Ahmed were among the first arrested in the case. The agency alleged that they led investigators to a rented house in Byculla, where the bombs were reportedly assembled. Ahmed purportedly provided duplicate keys to the rented house and keys to two stolen scooters used in the blasts.
The ATS further claimed that Bhatkal had taken the house on rent with the assistance of Ahmed and Shaikh. Financial aspects of the conspiracy involved money sent via hawala transactions on the instructions of another accused, Haroon Naik, while Zainul Abideen, another accused, allegedly purchased materials for the blasts and stored them at his residence.
The granting of bail to Shaikh highlights ongoing challenges in the Indian judicial system, particularly in cases involving terrorism, where trials can extend over many years without resolution. This decision underscores the court's recognition of the right to a speedy trial and the impact of prolonged detention on accused individuals.
