Gujarat HC Upholds Death Penalty for 38 Convicts in 2008 Ahmedabad Blasts Case

The Gujarat High Court has upheld the death sentence of 38 Indian Mujahideen (IM) operatives and the life imprisonment of 11 others in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case , affirming the special court's February 2022 verdict. The court held that the scale of the conspiracy , the heavy loss of life and the intent to spread terror justified the punishment.

In its July 7 judgment , a division bench of Justices A.Y. Kogje and Samir Dave dismissed all appeals filed by the convicts and confirmed the death sentences sought to be upheld by the Gujarat government.

The High Court observed that the case involved a "humongous" conspiracy aimed at creating widespread fear in society. It said the 56 deaths , injuries to over 200 people , and the calculated execution of the attacks reflected the extreme gravity of the offence. Describing the bombings as an "inhuman and dastardly act," the bench said the manner in which they were carried out revealed a remorseless mindset. It also noted that several convicts had criminal antecedents, none had shown remorse, and there were no grounds for a lenient sentence.

The 21 serial blasts took place across Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008 , within 70 minutes , including explosions at hospitals where victims were being treated—the first such targeting of medical facilities in a terror attack in India.

While upholding the life sentences of 11 convicts , the court said the prosecution had proved their roles in attending terror training camps in Gujarat and Kerala, arranging shelter, and procuring scooters, plastic containers and clocks used in the conspiracy.

The bench also upheld the fines imposed on the convicts and directed the Gujarat government to pay ₹10 lakh to the families of each deceased victim and ₹5 lakh to every grievously injured survivor by March 30, 2027 . The 2022 special court verdict remains the first in India to award the death penalty to 38 convicts in a single case .