Hyderabad MP and AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi expressed strong concern over the acquittal of all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case by the Bombay High Court. Criticizing the prolonged incarceration of the accused, Owaisi remarked that these individuals lost the most productive years of their lives due to a flawed investigation and systemic failure. “In high-profile terror cases, police often presume guilt first and build their case backward,” he said, further criticizing the media’s role in shaping public perception by prematurely declaring individuals as guilty before the courts do.
The AIMIM leader also targeted the then Congress-led Maharashtra government, under whose watch the arrests and alleged torture occurred. He emphasized that ruling parties at the time must also be held accountable for the investigative failures and human rights violations. Owaisi raised concerns about the emotional and social damage inflicted on the families of the accused, pointing out that some family members had passed away during their long years in prison. He questioned how the state plans to offer justice or compensation for the lives disrupted without due process.
The Bombay High Court, in its detailed ruling, stated that the prosecution had completely failed to present credible evidence. It criticized the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad for poor investigation, improper handling of evidence, and failure to examine key witnesses. The court noted that the type of explosives allegedly used was never clearly identified, and several confessional statements appeared to be coerced, incomplete, or copy-pasted. With this judgment, the High Court overturned both the death penalties and life sentences previously handed down, ordering the immediate release of the accused unless wanted in other cases.
