Supreme Court stays death sentence of Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts convict Abu Barelvi

The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the petition of death row convict Ahmed Bawa Abu Bakar Barelvi in ​​the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case. In the petition, the decision of Gujarat High Court has been challenged in which his sentence has been upheld. The counsel appearing before the bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath argued that the conviction was based solely on the allegation of conspiracy. A petition seeking translation of the Gujarat High Court judgment has also been filed.

The lower court documents are in the local language. Justice Nath remarked, “Okay, sentence will be stayed. Issue notice for now.” During Thursday’s hearing, Barelvi’s lawyer also sought a translated copy of the Gujarat High Court judgment as the lower court records were in Gujarati.

56 people died in the serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad.

The serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad occurred on 26 July 2008, in which multiple explosions occurred in different parts of the city. 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in these blasts. In February 2022, a special court in Gujarat convicted 49 accused in the case. The court sentenced 38 of them to death and 11 to life imprisonment, while acquitting 28 others.

Subsequently, the Gujarat High Court heard the appeals filed by the convicts against their sentences as well as the proceedings for confirmation of the death penalty sought by the state. The High Court upheld the conviction and death sentence of 38 convicts. Barelvi challenged this decision in the Supreme Court.

What did the High Court say? The high court rejected all the appeals filed by the convicts and upheld the February 2022 verdict of the special court; In this decision, 38 members of the Indian Mujahideen were sentenced to death and 11 others were sentenced to life imprisonment. The state government had sought confirmation of the death sentence.

The High Court said that the criminal history of the 38 convicts and their roles prove that they have committed a terrorist act for which death penalty is appropriate.