Mumbai: After the Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 men convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, the verdict has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, drawing sharp reactions from survivors, victims’ families, and political leaders. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, along with those affected by the tragedy, met Additional Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Chahal at Mantralaya to demand justice.
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Somaiya said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had expressed deep shock over the verdict. “The CM assured that the best legal minds will be consulted and urged us to meet Chahal with the survivors,” Somaiya stated. He confirmed yesterday that preparations are underway to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.
Chirag Chauhan, a survivor and now a lawyer, recounted how the trauma haunts him even today. “This verdict is a blow. The pain never left. Now justice, too, is taken away,” he said.
Mahendra Pitale, who lost a hand in the Jogeshwari blast, called for a fresh probe. “I feel more pain now than when I lost my hand. Those behind this should be hanged,” he said. Hansraj Kanojia, who lost a leg, added, “The blast shattered our lives. Now this verdict feels like a second attack.”
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Among the most emotional reactions came from Ramesh Naik, who lost his 27-year-old daughter Nandini. “She had a good job and a bright future. She was at Borivali station when the blast killed her. Now they say no one is guilty? Then who planted the bombs?” he asked.
Deadly Blasts Claimed 189 Lives, Injured Over 800
The July 11, 2006 blasts remain one of Mumbai’s deadliest terror attacks. Seven coordinated explosions, triggered using RDX in first-class compartments during peak hours, killed 189 people and injured over 800. The case was probed under stringent laws including MCOCA and UAPA, with the Maharashtra ATS filing its chargesheet in November 2006. Twelve of the 13 accused were convicted in 2015, while one died before the trial. Several others remain absconding, reportedly based in Pakistan.
The High Court’s verdict, delivered on July 21 after nearly 19 years and hearings by 11 different benches, has left survivors devastated. As outrage grows, families vow to fight on, this time, for justice in the Supreme Court.
