The Supreme Court has temporarily stayed the Bombay High Court's recent verdict concerning the Mumbai train blasts of July 11, 2006. However, the Apex Court majorly stated that while they have temporarily stayed the High Court's judgment, it will not be applied as a precedent in future cases. Significantly, the bench also did not stay the release of the eleven individuals who had been acquitted by the High Court.

No sooner than the High Court delivered its ruling on July 21, 2025, the Maharashtra Government challenged this verdict on the next day .

The Supreme Court’s ruling highlights the court's stance on the treatment of this judgment. The bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice N Kotiswar Singh who heard the matter stated, "All respondents released and thus no question to bring them back to prison. However, on the question of law we will say that impugned judgment is not treated as precedent in any other cases. Therefore to that extent let there be stay on the impugned judgment."

The broader context of this matter involves the tragic bomb blasts that occurred in 2006, which involved seven bombs detonating in suburban trains along Mumbai’s Western Railway line, resulting in 187 deaths and injuries to over 800 individuals. Following an extensive trial under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), a special court in October 2015 handed down death sentences to five accused and life imprisonment to seven others for their roles in the attacks.

Incidentally, one among them on a death sentence, Kamal Ansari, passed away in 2021 while incarcerated, due to COVID-19.

Case Details : THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v MOHD FAISAL ATAUR RAHMAN SHAIKH AND ORS|SLP(Crl) No. 10780-10791/2025