Recent court decisions in the Malegaon blast case and the 7/11 Mumbai local train serial blasts have sparked controversy. While the court acquitted the accused in both cases due to lack of evidence, the state government appealed to the Supreme Court in the serial blasts case. However, no such action was taken regarding the Malegaon case, leading to accusations of double standards against the government. A Right to Information (RTI) inquiry with the Maharashtra government’s Department of Law and Justice revealed that the government would not be appealing in the High Court or Supreme Court against the acquittal of seven accused, including former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Colonel Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast. This blast resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to approximately 100 others. Conversely, the state government filed an appeal in the Supreme Court on July 22 against the acquittal of the accused by the Bombay High Court in the 7/11 Mumbai local train serial blasts case, with the Supreme Court staying the High Court’s decision on July 24. The Bombay High Court had acquitted all accused in the 7/11 2006 Mumbai serial blasts due to insufficient evidence. This incident claimed over 100 lives and injured more than 800 individuals. The opposition has strongly criticized the government for its differing stance in the two cases, accusing it of employing ‘double standards’ in serious matters like bomb blasts and influencing the justice process. This is expected to intensify political conflict, particularly as the government has remained silent on the Malegaon blast case, while promptly appealing in the serial blasts case. The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the government in the Supreme Court. During the hearing, the court clarified that its decision in the serial blasts case should not be considered a precedent.
