Top Court Halts Death Penalty for Convict in 2008 Ahmedabad Blasts

The Supreme Court has halted the execution of the death sentence given to an Indian Mujahideen operative linked to the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb attacks. A bench of judges agreed to hear an appeal filed by the convict, Mohammad Tanvir, against a July high court ruling.

The Court Order

The apex court directed the Gujarat government and prison authorities to submit probation reports, prison work records, behavior logs, and a government hospital psychological evaluation within eight weeks. The case has been scheduled for a fresh hearing after twelve weeks. The top court also previously halted the execution of another convict in the same case, Ahmed Bawa, on October first.

Background of the Case

On July 7, the high court upheld capital punishment for 38 operatives of the terror group, pointing to the massive scale of the conspiracy and the heavy loss of life. The original 2008 attacks involved 21 explosions across Ahmedabad within a span of 70 minutes, which left 56 people dead and more than 200 injured. A special court initially handed down death sentences to 38 individuals and life terms to 11 others in February 2022.

Context

Capital punishment cases in India often go through multiple layers of appellate review, including special courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court, before any final sentence is carried out. Courts routinely examine behavioral reports, probation records, and medical evaluations when reviewing petitions against death sentences.