Ahmedabad: After hearing appeals for over two years, Gujarat High Court has fixed Tuesday to deliver its verdict in the 2008 serial blasts case, in which a special trial court had convicted 49 people, awarding death sentence to 38 and life imprisonment to 11.Of the 78 people put on trial before a special court in connection with the terror strikes that rocked Ahmedabad on the evening of July 26, 2008, 49 were convicted. Fifty-six people were killed and 246 others injured in the blasts that, in a first for India, targeted hospitals. The accused had claimed that the attacks were 2002 riots reprisals.All the persons convicted challenged their conviction and the state govt had sought a confirmation from the high court for the death sentence handed down to 38 as death penalty awarded by a trial court cannot be executed without a high court’s confirmation.The bench of Justice Alpesh Kogje and Justice Samir Dave, who have heard the case for the last two and a half years, passed a brief order on Monday stating, “Stand over to 7th July, 2026, for pronouncement of judgement.” The case has come on the board for hearing before the high court 248 times till date.The high court heard the appeals against the special court’s Feb 8, 2022, order running into 7,015 pages. The trial had been conducted after merging 35 different cases, 20 FIRs lodged in Ahmedabad for the blasts, and 15 in Surat, where bombs did not detonate.Those convicted in the case got harsh punishment under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and IPC, Explosive Substances Act etc. The court acquitted 28 persons and pardoned one accused, who turned approver.Among the 49 convicts are Safdar Nagori, former leader of the banned outfit, Student Inslamic Movement of India (SIMI), and his associates from 11 states including Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Keralam, Uttar Pradesh. They have been convicted under IPC, UAPA, Explosive Substance Act and Damage to Public Property Act. All 49 have been held guilty of charges like murder, attempt to commit murder, criminal conspiracy, attempting to wage war against the nation, sedition, for participation in unlawful activities and terrorist activity for which maximum punishment prescribed in death.The prosecution examined 1,163 witnesses before nine different judges in the long trial. There were 26 star witnesses, whose identities were concealed for their safety. Four of the accused were treated as approvers by admitting their confessions, though they fought a legal battle asserting their retractions at a later stage. The court has found all four guilty.
