Maharashtra appoints special public prosecutor for 2006 Mumbai train blasts case

The Maharashtra government has appointed Advocate Raja Thakarey as the special public prosecutor for the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, following criticism from the Bombay High Court.

Earlier on Wednesday, Justices Nitin Sambre and Rajesh Patil, who were presiding over the case, expressed their dissatisfaction with the government's delay in appointing a prosecutor for the case, which involves the confirmation of death sentences and hearing of appeals.

On Friday, they declared that no adjournments would be granted and that hearings on the pending petitions would commence on a day-to-day basis from October 5. This decision comes after a request from a lawyer representing one of the convicts for a six-week postponement of the next hearing.

Responding to this, the bench said, "No, you are getting 4 weeks. No question of adjournment on whatsoever ground. 5th October 10:30 we will be opening with your argument."

"This matter is listed time and again before court and considering gravity we deem appropriate to fix the matter on 5th October for hearing on a day-to-day basis. We direct convicts to commence argument. No adjournment on whatsoever ground will be allowed," the bench added.

The counsel representing one of the convicts, Kamal Ansari, informed the bench that Ansari had passed away during Covid-19. However, his family expressed their intention to continue contesting the confirmation of the death sentence.

The court was informed that the accused had filed several miscellaneous applications seeking their physical presence during the hearings.

While the defense counsel argued for their clients' right to be physically present, both Thakarey and Prosecutor Mankuwar Deshmukh, representing the state government, opposed this, citing security concerns. The court decided to hear these miscellaneous applications regarding physical presence on October 3.

The court will further hear the confirmation of the death sentence and appeals from October 5.

2006 MUMBAI SERIAL TRAIN BLASTS

Seven RDX bombs exploded on the first class coaches of several local trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, killing 188 people and injuring 829. The co-ordinated blasts occurred within a span of 10 minutes between Khar Road-Santacruz, Bandra-Khar Road, Jogeshwari-Mahim Junction, Mira Road- Bhayander, Matunga- Mahim Junction and Borivali.

The ATS chargesheet had said that Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were made in a room in Govandi in suburban Mumbai and some Pakistani nationals were also present during the bomb-making.