“Why Appeal Against Those Declared Innocent?”: Owaisi Slams Centre, Maha Govt After SC Halts Bombay HC Acquittals in 2006 Blasts Case

New Delhi: In a sharp response to the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the Bombay High Court verdict that acquitted 12 individuals in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the motives of both the Central and Maharashtra governments.

Speaking on Thursday, Owaisi said, “The Supreme Court has stayed the High Court’s judgement, but clarified that those released after 18 years will not be arrested again. I want to ask both governments—why are you filing an appeal against men who walked out as completely innocent? What more do you want to prove?”

The Bombay High Court had recently overturned the convictions of 12 men, citing lack of evidence and serious procedural lapses, thereby acquitting them in the devastating 2006 serial blasts that killed over 180 people and injured more than 800. The verdict was hailed as a long-delayed justice by rights activists and the defence lawyers.

However, the Centre and Maharashtra government promptly moved the apex court challenging the acquittal. The Supreme Court, while admitting the appeals, stayed the implementation of the High Court’s ruling on Thursday, though it ruled out the re-arrest of the accused during the pendency of the case.

Owaisi further drew a pointed comparison, asking whether the same legal urgency would apply in other controversial terror cases. “If the accused in the Malegaon blasts case—where the verdict is reserved—are acquitted, will you file an appeal then too? Or is this selective?” he asked, hinting at ideological biases in the handling of terror cases.