The Gujarat High Court has upheld the death sentences of 38 convicts and life imprisonment for 11 others in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, affirming the conviction of Indian Mujahideen (IM) members by a special court. The July 26, 2008, attacks claimed 56 lives and injured over 200 people in Ahmedabad.
Background of the 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts
The 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts were a series of coordinated bomb explosions that rocked the city, with 21 low-intensity bombs exploding across 14 locations within a span of nearly an hour. The attacks targeted various locations, including hospitals treating the injured.
According to investigators, the conspiracy behind the bombings was hatched during a clandestine training camp organised by the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) in December 2007. The IM later claimed responsibility for the bombings, describing them as "revenge for the 2002 Gujarat riots."
Key Findings and Verdict
A division bench of Justices A.Y. Kogje and Samir Dave dismissed all appeals filed by the convicts against the 2022 special court judgment, confirming the sentences. The special court had described the case as falling under the "rarest of rare" category, warranting the death penalty for 38 convicts.
- 56 people killed in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts
- Over 200 people injured in the attacks
- 21 low-intensity bombs exploded across 14 locations
- 38 convicts sentenced to death, 11 to life imprisonment
The judgment marks a significant development in one of India's deadliest terror cases, nearly 18 years after the coordinated bombings shook Gujarat's largest city. The case is now likely to be taken to the Supreme Court for final confirmation of the death sentences.
