Justice Sandeep Mehta, Supreme Court judge has recused from hearing the appeal filed by the State of Rajasthan against the acquittal of the accused persons in the 2008 Jaipur serial bomb blast case. Notably, Justice B.R. Gavai was also a part of the division bench composition.
A series of explosions took place in Jaipur, claiming the lives of 71 persons and injuries to 185 persons on May 13, 2008. Reportedly, the trial court found four persons guilty of the offence and awarded them the death penalty. Nonetheless, in March, 2023, the Rajasthan High Court set aside the convictions, citing glaring lapses in the investigation.
The Rajasthan High Court also declared that one of the accused persons was juvenile at the time of the offence. Disappointed by the High Court’s ruling, separate appeals were filed by the State and victims against the acquittal judgement before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court on May 17, 2023 refused to pass an absolute stay on the High Court’s order while hearing the State’s appeal. The top court ordered their release subject to certain conditions. The Rajasthan High Court acquitted four people namely Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Sarvar, Saif-Ur-Rahman and Salman. They were given capital punishment by trial court in 2019.
On December 8, the Supreme Court dismissed a Special Leave Petition lodged by the State of Rajasthan against the High Court’s order that declared one of the convicts in the case to be a juvenile on the date of occurrence.
Notably, the Rajasthan High Court is the parent High Court of Justice Mehta. Justice Sandeep Mehta was elevated to the Supreme Court in November last year.
In the Jaipur blast case, nine ammonium nitrate bombs strapped to bicycles went off within a span of 25 minutes between 7.20pm and 7.45pm in the crowded areas of Jaipur on May 13, 2008. Furthermore, one live bomb was recovered near Ramchandra Temple which was defused by a bomb disposal squad. Reports stated that terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) had claimed responsibility for the blasts.