Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi praised the Gujarat High Court’s decision to uphold the death sentences of 38 convicts involved in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts, calling it a verdict of “zero mercy” for those responsible for one of India’s deadliest terror attacks. The court also confirmed life imprisonment for 11 others in the same case.
A Division Bench of the Gujarat High Court upheld the special court’s judgment, which included death penalties for 38 convicts and life imprisonment for 11 individuals in connection with the 2008 serial blasts. The court ordered compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the 56 deceased victims and Rs one lakh for over 200 injured victims.
The special court’s decision from February 2022, which convicted 49 individuals after a lengthy trial, was affirmed by the High Court. This case dates back to the coordinated bomb blasts that rocked Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, resulting in the death of 56 people and injuries to more than 200 others.
Under Indian law, High Court confirmation is required for all death sentences imposed by trial courts before they can be carried out. The attacks targeted buses, public places, and hospitals, with explosions occurring over a short period, leaving a devastating impact on the city.
Investigators pursued numerous criminal cases and conducted an extensive probe that led to the prosecution of multiple suspects. Following a comprehensive trial involving a large number of witnesses and evidence, the special court convicted 49 individuals, sentencing 38 to death and 11 to life imprisonment.
The convicted individuals challenged the verdict in the Gujarat High Court, while the state sought confirmation of the death penalties. The recent ruling by the High Court upheld the special court’s decisions and sentences, allowing the convicts to potentially appeal to the Supreme Court for relief.
