Ahmedabad serial blasts: SC stays execution of death-row convict Ahmed Bawa Abubakar Barelvi

The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of the death sentence awarded to Ahmed Bawa Abubakar Barelvi, a death-row convict in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, while issuing notice on his plea challenging the Gujarat High Court judgment that upheld his conviction and capital punishment.

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) against the High Court verdict.

The apex court issued notice to the Gujarat government and other respondents seeking their responses to the plea. It also called for the trial court records in the matter.

Barelvi, represented by advocate Ashutosh Thakur, has challenged the High Court judgment upholding his conviction and death sentence. During the hearing, his counsel questioned the findings against him and argued that his conviction was based entirely on the alleged conspiracy.

Barelvi was among 38 convicts sentenced to death by the Ahmedabad Sessions Court after 49 of the 78 accused were convicted on February 18, 2022. Eleven others were sentenced to life imprisonment, while 29 accused were acquitted.

The serial blasts struck multiple locations across Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, killing 56 people and injuring more than 200.

The case involved an extensive investigation, with 35 FIRs registered and 548 charge sheets filed. The trial court judgment ran to nearly 7,000 pages after 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 residents of several states, including Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand. They 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.

Following the Sessions Court’s award of death sentences, the Gujarat government had approached the High Court seeking confirmation and execution of the sentences against the 38 convicts.

With Thursday’s order, the execution of Barelvi’s death sentence will remain stayed while the Supreme Court considers his challenge to the High Court judgment.