Ahmedabad, July 7, 2026: In a landmark judgment in one of India’s deadliest terror cases, the Gujarat High Court has upheld the death penalty awarded to 38 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case. The court also confirmed the life imprisonment of 11 other convicts, affirming the verdict delivered by the special trial court in February 2022.
The judgment was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justice Alpesh Y. Kogje and Justice Samir J. Dave. After hearing appeals filed by the convicts as well as the confirmation proceedings for the death sentences, the Bench found no reason to interfere with the trial court’s findings and upheld all the sentences. The detailed judgment is expected to be released separately.
The High Court also maintained the financial penalties and compensation ordered by the special court. Each convicted person will continue to pay a fine of ₹10 lakh. The compensation awarded to the families of those killed and to the injured victims has also been upheld.
The serial bomb blasts took place on July 26, 2008, when a series of coordinated explosions rocked multiple locations across Ahmedabad within about 70 minutes. Public places, city buses and hospitals were among the targets. The attacks claimed 56 lives and left more than 200 people injured, making them one of the deadliest terror attacks in Gujarat’s history.
Following a lengthy investigation and trial, the special court delivered its verdict in February 2022. Of the 77 accused who faced trial, 49 were convicted while 28 were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Among those convicted, 38 were sentenced to death and 11 were awarded life imprisonment.
With the Gujarat High Court affirming the trial court’s decision nearly eighteen years after the attacks, the case has reached another significant legal milestone. The convicted persons, however, may still challenge the High Court’s judgment before the Supreme Court.
Ahmedabad, July 7, 2026: In a landmark judgment in one of India’s deadliest terror cases, the Gujarat High Court has upheld the death penalty awarded to 38 convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case. The court also confirmed the life imprisonment of 11 other convicts, affirming the verdict delivered by the special trial court in February 2022.
The judgment was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Justice Alpesh Y. Kogje and Justice Samir J. Dave. After hearing appeals filed by the convicts as well as the confirmation proceedings for the death sentences, the Bench found no reason to interfere with the trial court’s findings and upheld all the sentences. The detailed judgment is expected to be released separately.
The High Court also maintained the financial penalties and compensation ordered by the special court. Each convicted person will continue to pay a fine of ₹10 lakh. The compensation awarded to the families of those killed and to the injured victims has also been upheld.
The serial bomb blasts took place on July 26, 2008, when a series of coordinated explosions rocked multiple locations across Ahmedabad within about 70 minutes. Public places, city buses and hospitals were among the targets. The attacks claimed 56 lives and left more than 200 people injured, making them one of the deadliest terror attacks in Gujarat’s history.
Following a lengthy investigation and trial, the special court delivered its verdict in February 2022. Of the 77 accused who faced trial, 49 were convicted while 28 were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Among those convicted, 38 were sentenced to death and 11 were awarded life imprisonment.
With the Gujarat High Court affirming the trial court’s decision nearly eighteen years after the attacks, the case has reached another significant legal milestone. The convicted persons, however, may still challenge the High Court’s judgment before the Supreme Court.
