‘The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of the death sentence imposed on Mohammad Tanvir, an operative of the Indian Mujahideen, for his involvement in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts. This incident, which occurred on July 26, 2008, resulted in the deaths of 56 individuals and left over 200 others injured. The court’s decision was reported by the Press Trust of India.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and Aparesh Kumar Singh agreed to consider Tanvir’s plea, which challenges the Gujarat High Court’s ruling from July 7. This ruling had upheld the death sentences for 38 individuals convicted in connection with the bombings. The bombings involved the detonation of 21 explosives across Ahmedabad within a span of 70 minutes, marking one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in the region’s history. The Supreme Court’s order to stay the execution was issued on October 9, 2026.

Supreme Court’s Directives

In its recent order, the Supreme Court instructed that the original case records be retrieved from both the trial court and the Gujarat High Court. Additionally, the court mandated that the Gujarat government submit reports from all probation officers concerning Tanvir within an eight-week timeframe. The court also required the superintendent of the prison where Tanvir is held to provide a report detailing his conduct and behaviour while incarcerated.

Furthermore, a psychological evaluation of Tanvir is to be conducted at a government medical facility, with the results to be submitted within the same eight-week period. The Supreme Court has scheduled the subsequent hearing for this matter to take place in 12 weeks. This decision follows a similar ruling on October 1, 2026, when the court stayed the execution of Ahmed Bawa, another convict involved in the case.

High Court’s Previous Rulings

The High Court highlighted several factors that influenced its decision, including the significant loss of life, the extensive nature of the conspiracy, and the intention to instil widespread fear within society. It also considered the conduct of the convicts during the trial and the scale of the conspiracy, which ultimately led to the loss of innocent lives in what was described as an “inhuman and dastardly act.”

In addition to the death sentences, the High Court upheld the life sentences of the remaining 11 convicts. The prosecution had successfully demonstrated their involvement in terror training camps and their roles in procuring materials used in the bombings, including scooters and plastic containers, as well as providing shelter to other accused individuals.

A total of 78 individuals faced trial after the merging of 35 police cases related to the bombings and unexploded devices found in Surat. The special court ultimately convicted 49 individuals, marking the first instance in which 38 convicts received death sentences in a single case.

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