Execution Stayed
Supreme Court stays the execution of Indian Mujahideen operative Ahmed Bawa.
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Key Points
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Barelvi’s lawyer argued that his conviction rested entirely on conspiracy; his legal team also asked for a translated copy of the High Court judgment because the trial court records were in Gujarati.
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The blasts were the first terror attack in India in which medical facilities were targeted, with explosions at hospitals where victims were being treated.
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Two days after the Ahmedabad attacks, several live bombs were found at locations in Surat, but none exploded.
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In upholding the death sentences, the High Court also cited the convicts’ conduct during trial, criminal antecedents and lack of remorse, and said the record did not support a more lenient sentence.
The Supreme Court stayed the execution of Ahmed Bawa, an Indian Mujahideen operative sentenced to death for the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, according to OpIndia. A three-judge bench issued the stay on October 1 and ordered the Gujarat government to submit trial court records. Barelvi's lawyers argue his conviction rests entirely on conspiracy charges without direct physical evidence. The 21 blasts in July 2008 killed 56 people and injured over 200.
The Gujarat High Court upheld death sentences for 38 convicts in July 2026, citing the scale of the conspiracy and intent to spread terror, according to Times Now News. The court also noted the convicts' lack of remorse and criminal records. Barelvi's legal team requested a translated copy of the High Court judgment because trial records were written in Gujarati. The case involved 78 accused total, with 49 convicted and 29 acquitted.
Why The High Court Upheld Death Sentences
The Gujarat High Court confirmed all 38 death sentences in July 2026 after reviewing the scale and nature of the attacks. According to NDTV, the court cited the "humongous" conspiracy, the deliberate targeting of hospitals, and the convicts' lack of remorse during trial. The judges noted that criminal antecedents and courtroom misconduct also weighed against leniency. The court concluded the record did not support anything less than the death penalty.
Hospitals Targeted During Initial Wave of Blasts
The 2008 Ahmedabad blasts marked the first terror attack in India to deliberately target medical facilities. Explosives detonated at Civil Hospital and LG Hospital while emergency teams treated blast victims. According to News18, this second wave of explosions was timed to maximize casualties among both patients and first responders. Two days later, several live bombs were found in nearby Surat but failed to detonate.
Defense Argues Conviction Lacks Individual Physical Evidence
Barelvi's legal team contends that his conviction rests entirely on conspiracy charges without direct overt acts tied to him personally. According to Times of India, defense counsel stated: "I have been convicted totally on the basis of conspiracy." The lawyers also asked the court for translated judgment documents. The trial court records span over 7,800 pages and were maintained exclusively in Gujarati, creating procedural barriers to Supreme Court review.
Supreme Court Sets Precedent For Other Death-Row Convicts
The stay opens a path for the remaining 37 death-row convicts to file similar appeals based on procedural and evidentiary grounds. The three-judge bench, led by Justice Vikram Nath, stated that execution would be stayed pending review of lower court records. The Solicitor General argued the case remains serious and involves severe national security threats. The state must now respond formally to the Supreme Court's notice within weeks.
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