Ahmedabad serial blasts: HC upholds death penalty for 38 IM operatives, life imprisonment for 11

The Gujarat High Court on Tuesday upheld the death penalty awarded to 38 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blast case. A division bench comprising justices AY Kogje and Samir Dave also endorsed the February 2022 trial court order for life sentences to 11 others.

This is likely the case in which the largest number of people were awarded the capital punishment in Independent India.

Fifty-six people had lost their lives and 246 people were injured in 23 blasts that ripped through Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008. Most bombs were planted on bicycles in lunch boxes in the old city area and contained low-grade explosives. At LG and Civil Hospitals, bombs were placed in automobiles packed with gas cylinders to cause maximum casualties.


The high court also ordered the state government to pay ₹10 lakh to the families of each of those who were killed in the blasts. Those who suffered grievous and simple injuries should be paid ₹5 lakh and ₹1 lakh each, respectively.

Terror outfit Indian Mujahideen had claimed responsibility for the blasts in an email sent to the media minutes before the blasts. As many as 547 charge sheets were filed and 1,163 witnesses examined in the case against 78 accused in the trial that began in December 2009. One of the accused, Ayaz Razakmiya Saiyyed, turned approver. Welcoming the verdict, Gujarat deputy CM Harsh Sanghavi said: "This is a historic decision not only for Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India but for all peace-loving countries of the world."