The 2008 Ahmedabad blasts case returned to the Supreme Court on Thursday, with the court staying the execution of death-row convict Ahmed Bawa alias Abbu Abubakar Barelvi. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath, AG Masih and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Gujarat government and sought records from the trial court while hearing Bawa's challenge to the Gujarat High Court verdict.
The High Court had upheld his death sentence along with those of 37 other Indian Mujahideen operatives in July. The Supreme Court's order does not overturn the conviction or sentence; it pauses the execution while the appeal is considered.
What happened in the Ahmedabad blasts?
On July 26, 2008, Ahmedabad was hit by 21 bomb blasts within around 70 minutes. The attacks killed 56 people and injured more than 200 others. Some explosions occurred at hospitals where victims were being treated.
The case involved multiple FIRs relating to the Ahmedabad explosions and unexploded bombs recovered in Surat. Seventy-eight accused were put on trial after 35 cases were clubbed together. A special court convicted 49 people in February 2022.
The trial court sentenced 38 convicts to death and 11 others to life imprisonment. The Gujarat High Court subsequently confirmed the sentences.
Why did the High Court uphold the death penalty?
In its July ruling, the Gujarat High Court cited the scale of the conspiracy, the number of casualties and the prosecution's case regarding an intention to create widespread terror as factors supporting capital punishment.
The court also upheld the life sentences of 11 other convicts, finding that their roles included participation in alleged terror training camps, arranging logistics and providing support to the conspiracy.
The High Court directed the Gujarat government to provide compensation of Rs 10 lakh to families of those killed and Rs 5 lakh to those grievously injured, with the payments to be made before March 30, 2027.
Supreme Court to examine the appeal
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, described the matter as serious during Thursday's hearing. The Supreme Court has now sought the trial court records as it considers Bawa's challenge to the High Court judgment.
The proceedings will determine whether the death sentence against Bawa should ultimately stand. For now, the execution remains stayed while the Supreme Court examines the case.
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