Ahmedabad HC Upholds Death for 38 in 2008 Serial Blast Case, Orders Compensation for Victims

AHMEDABAD : In one of the most significant terrorism judgments in India’s judicial history, the Gujarat High Court on Tuesday upheld the trial court’s verdict in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, confirming the death sentence awarded to 38 convicts and life imprisonment for 11 others. The court also directed the Gujarat government to pay compensation of ₹10 lakh to the families of each deceased victim, ₹5 lakh to those who suffered grievous injuries and ₹1 lakh to those with minor injuries by March 31, 2027.

The verdict came nearly 18 years after the devastating serial bomb blasts that rocked Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008. Twenty-one coordinated explosions at 20 locations across the city claimed 56 lives and left more than 200 people seriously injured, making it one of Gujarat’s deadliest terror attacks.

The High Court dismissed all appeals filed by the convicts challenging the February 18, 2022 judgment of the Ahmedabad City Sessions Court, which had, for the first time in the country’s history, sentenced 38 accused to death in a single terror case. The state government had simultaneously sought confirmation of the death sentences before the High Court.

Extraordinary security arrangements were made at the Gujarat High Court ahead of the verdict. Entry into the court premises was allowed only after strict security checks, including baggage scanning. Around 120 police personnel, including senior officers, State Reserve Police personnel, Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad teams and videographers, were deployed to maintain law and order. Additional Crime Branch and local police inspectors were stationed around the court complex.

Advocate Amit Patel, who represented the prosecution, said the Division Bench had confirmed the trial court’s punishment in its entirety.

“Although I have not yet studied the complete judgment, I can confirm that the High Court has upheld the death sentence of 38 convicts and directed the state government to compensate the victims’ families and the injured by March 31, 2027,” Patel said.

Former Crime Branch officer and investigating officer Abhay Chudasama described the verdict as a validation of the extensive investigation carried out by the police.

“This judgment has sealed our investigation. It was a matter of prestige for the Crime Branch, and officers worked tirelessly. The coordination between multiple agencies and states during the investigation remains unmatched in the country,” Chudasama said.

Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi termed the judgment a landmark moment for Gujarat and the nation.

“This is not an ordinary verdict but one of the biggest judgments in the country’s history. Families who lost their loved ones in the 2008 serial blasts have finally received justice after years,” Sanghvi said.