Mumbai local train blasts: Bombay HC acquits 12 accused after 19 years

All 12 accused were convicted by a lower court in the bombing case.

A trial court had sentenced five of the 12 accused to death in 2015, while the rest were handed life imprisonment.

Also Read: 12 convicted,1 acquitted in 2006 Mumbai train blast case

The High Court order was given by a bench comprising Justice Anil Kilor and Justice Shyam Chandak.

"The prosecution has utterly failed to prove the case against the accused. It is hard to believe that the accused committed the crime. Hence, their conviction is quashed and set aside," the bench said as quoted by NDTV in its report.

The court said the accused will be released from prison if they are not wanted in any other case.

The verdict comes 19 years after the serial blasts that took place in crowded suburban trains, Mumbai's lifeline, in 2006 during the evening peak hours.

Seven RDX bombs went off in a span of just 11 minutes in the first-class coaches of Mumbai's suburban trains on July 11, 2006, killing 188 people and injuring 800.

The bombs were kept in pressure cookers.

The blasts occurred between Khar Road-Santacruz, Bandra-Khar Road, Jogeshwari-Mahim Junction, Mira Road- Bhayander, Matunga- Mahim Junction and Borivali.