The Patna High Court has made a significant decision in the Arrah Civil Court blast case, providing relief to Lambu Sharma and other convicts. Lambu Sharma was acquitted of the death penalty but convicted, along with Akhilesh Upadhyay, for escaping from jail. The court also overturned life imprisonment sentences for Rinku Yadav, Pramod Singh, Shyam Vinay Sharma, Chand Miyan, Naim Miyan, and Anshu Kumar, absolving them of the charges.
The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Sangam Kumar Sahoo, delivered the verdict after hearings on appeals challenging the lower court’s ruling. The judgment, reserved on February 12, 2026, directed the state government to ensure the online presence of the convicts in different jails. Additionally, the District Legal Services Authority was tasked with providing legal counsel to inform the convicts about the ongoing proceedings.
The case dates back to the January 23, 2015, blast at the Arrah Civil Court, where a female suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, causing casualties. The attack was allegedly orchestrated to aid Lambu Sharma’s escape, who managed to flee amidst the chaos. This ruling marks a significant turn in the case, altering the legal status of several accused while upholding some convictions.
In a previous trial, Additional District and Sessions Judge Tribhuvan Yadav had sentenced Lambu Sharma to death under various legal provisions, along with a fine. Seven other accused had received life imprisonment for murder charges. The convicts, dissatisfied with the verdict, appealed to the Patna High Court for a review.
