Accused people in 7/11, 2006, serial train blasts being taken to the Sessions court from the Arthur road jail in Mumbai. Twelve persons, arrested in 2006 for their involvement in the July 11, 2006, serial train blasts case, were acquitted by the Bombay High Court.
Credit: PTI Photo
Time: 6.23 PM
Place of explosion: Mahim Junction
Train: 641 Down Borivli Fast
Time: 6.23 PM
Place of explosion: Bandra-Khar Road
Train: 637 Down Borivli Fast
Time: 6.23 PM
Place of explosion: Mira Road-Bhayander
Train: 607 Down Virar Fast
Time: 6.24 PM
Place of explosion: Matunga Road-Mahim Junction
Train: 645 Down Virar Fast
Time: 6.24 PM
Place of explosion: Jogeshwari Station
Train: 619 Down Borivli Slow
Time: 6.25 PM
Place of explosion: Khar Subway
Train: 635 Down Borivli Slow
Time: 6.28 PM
Place of explosion: Borivli Station
Train: 621 Down Virar Fast
The impact
Total Dead: 187
Total injured: Over 1,000
Railway property damaged: Rs 85.61 lakh
Seven blasts in 11 minutes on July 11 nine years ago in first-class suburban train compartments in the evening peak hours – during the monsoon - had left Mumbai, India's financial capital, rattled.
The crowded trains bound for Borivli and Virar were targeted on the Western Railway with orchestrated blasts in gents’ first-class compartments. The commuters mostly include executives, businessmen and persons in employment at various levels in government as well as private establishments besides college students.
ATS was assigned the investigations and initially the role of LeT and ISI and outlawed SIMI ground network was suspected
Mumbai Crime Branch in 2008 busted the IM network and the role of Riyaz Bhatkal came to light
Some accused in the Aurangabad arms haul case, train blasts case and the September 8, 2006 Malegaon blast case were common
Incidentally, Beed-born Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal, who is an accused in the 26/11 terror attacks, has played a role in transporting RDX to Aurangabad, and his role is yet to be examined
The main planner and conspirator was Azam Cheema alias Babaji, the Bahawalpur-based LeT commander who doubles up as an ISI operative – a wanted accused in the case.. He started the planning several years ago and commenced training of some of the key players in the act of terror.
The prosecution examined 192 witnesses, including eight IPS and and five IAS officers as well as 18 doctors.
The defence lawyers examined 51 witnesses and one person was called as a court witness.
The chargesheet filed by Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) in November 2006 had named 30 accused, out of which
Deceased accused from Pakistan
Salim (from Lahore) – died in one of the blasts, body recovered later
Abu Umaid alias Abu Osama alias Mohammed Ali – killed in encounter on August 24, 2006
Wanted accused
Azam Chima alias Babaji (LeT commander based in Bahawalpur and ISI operative)
Aslam (Pakistani)
Hafizullah (Pakistani)
Sabir (Pakistani)
Abu Bakr (Pakistani)
Kasam Ali (Pakistani)
Ammu Jaan (Pakistani)
Ehsanullah (Pakistani)
Abu Hasan (Pakistani)
Rizwan Dawrey (Indian hailing from Pune, hiding in Gulf)
Mohammed Rahil Ataur Rehman Shaikh (Indian, presently in Birmingham, UK)
Abdul Razzak (Indian from Hyderabad, currently in Pakistan)
Sohail Shaikh (Indian hailing from Pune, hiding in Pakistan)
Hafiz Zubair alias Rayeen (Indian from Madhubani, presently in Nepal)
Abdul Rehman (Pakistani based in Nepal)
Three accused who were discharged before/after trial
Mumtaz Choudhary
Khalid Ahmed
Akhmal Hashmi
Abdul Wahid Din Mohammed Shaikh (after trial)
12 who were convicted and now acquitted
Kamal Ahmed Mohammed Vakil Ansari
Dr Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari
Mohammed Faisal Ataur Rehman Shaikh
Ehtesham Kutubuddin Siddiqui
Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi
Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam Shaikh
Mohammed Sajid Marqub Ansari
Muzzammil Ataur Rehman Shaikh
Suhail Mehmoob Shaikh
Zameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Shaikh
Naveed Hussain Khan
Asif Khan Bashir Khan alias Junaid alias Abdullah
7/11 Blasts - Timeline
March 2006: Bahawalpur-based LeT commander and ISI operative Azam Cheema starts planning
May 2006: 50 persons are sent to their training camp in Bahawalpur
11 July, 2006: Blasts in suburban trains of Western Railway
July-October 2006: ATS arrests 13 accused in connection with the serial blasts.
November 30, 2006: Chargesheet filed against 30 accused, including 13 Pakistani nationals, who are now absconding.
2007: Trial begins before special MCOCA Court
February 2008: Supreme Court stays trial after accused challenge MCOCA
23 April, 2010: Supreme Court vacates stay on trial
19 August, 2015: Trial concludes before special MCOCA Court
11 September, 2015: the MCOCA court convicted 12 of the 13 accused
21 July, 2025: All the 12 convicts were acquitted by the Bombay High Court