The Supreme Court has temporarily stopped the release of Md. Rashid Khan, a convict in the 1993 Bowbazar bomb blast case where 70 people died. The decision came after the Delhi High Court granted him remission, prompting the State of West Bengal to seek intervention.
Md. Rashid Khan, who has spent over 33 years in prison, was deemed eligible for early release based on his conduct and the reformative theory of punishment by the Delhi High Court. However, the West Bengal government opposed his release, citing his alleged role as the mastermind of the blast.
The Delhi High Court’s judgment highlighted Khan’s exemplary behavior in prison and the low likelihood of reoffending due to his age and health condition. It also emphasized the need for a reformative approach in considering remission for convicts like Khan.
The State Sentence Review Board had earlier recommended Khan’s premature release in 2015, but the process faced legal challenges concerning remission powers in cases involving the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) convicts. The matter remains under the Supreme Court’s consideration.
