SC halts early release of Bowbazar blast convict

New Delhi: Supreme Court has stayed Delhi High Court's direction allowing the premature release of Md Rashid Khan, a life-term convict in the 1993 Kolkata (Bowbazar) blast case. A bench of justices PK Mishra and Sanjeev Sachdeva passed the interim order on a plea moved by the West Bengal government, challenging the Delhi High Court ruling. It also issued a notice to Khan for his response.

Additional solicitor general SV Raju contended that 70 persons had died in the bombing and over 100 people were injured. He added that two buildings also collapsed due to the explosion.

Opposing the state government's plea, Khan's counsel submitted that he was not convicted for murder and that he suffers from various ailments. However, the bench observed that Khan's role was that of a mastermind and that his mind is fully functional. "This is almost terrorist activity," the bench orally remarked.


On June 5, Delhi HC allowed a petition by Rashid Khan, who had spent over 33 years in prison. The high court considered the petitioner's long period of incarceration, prison conduct and the reformative philosophy underlying the premature release.