Ahmedabad Serial Blasts: SC Stays Execution Of Death-Row Convict Ahmed Bawa Abubakar Barelvi
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
Summarized by AI; it may make mistakes. Check important info
The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of death-row convict Ahmed Bawa Abubakar Barelvi in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case and issued notice on his plea challenging the Gujarat High Court judgment that upheld his conviction and death sentence.
A Special Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Augustine George Masih and Sandeep Mehta passed the interim order while hearing Barelvi’s Special Leave Petition (SLP). The court has sought responses from the Gujarat government and other respondents.
Barelvi, represented by advocate Ashutosh Thakur, has challenged the Gujarat High Court verdict upholding his conviction and capital punishment. During the hearing, his counsel argued that the conviction was based entirely on the alleged conspiracy.
Barelvi Among 38 Sentenced To Death
Barelvi was among 38 convicts sentenced to death by the Ahmedabad Sessions Court after 49 of the 78 accused were convicted in the case on February 18, 2022. Eleven convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment, while 29 were acquitted.
The Gujarat High Court subsequently upheld the death sentences, following which the matter reached the Supreme Court.
2008 Blasts Killed 56, Injured More Than 200
A series of blasts ripped through multiple locations in Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, killing 56 people and injuring more than 200.
The case involved an extensive investigation, with 35 FIRs and 548 charge sheets filed. The trial court judgment ran to nearly 7,000 pages and involved the examination of thousands of pieces of evidence and 1,163 witnesses. The paper book in the case was reported to comprise around 7.88 lakh pages.
The accused were prosecuted under provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Explosive Substances Act, Damage to Public Property Act, Information Technology Act and Arms Act, among other laws.
The Supreme Court's interim order halts Barelvi's execution for now while his challenge to the Gujarat High Court judgment is considered. The Supreme Court's records also show Barelvi's SLP against the State of Gujarat had been listed before the court previously.
