Acquitted in 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case, teacher seeks Rs 9 crore compensation for wrongful incarceration

On July 21, 2025, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 train blasts case, holding that the prosecution had utterly failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Shaikh, who was awaiting the final verdict, submitted his formal appeal on Friday. “Despite brutal suffering, I continued to believe in the justice system, which ultimately acknowledged my innocence,” he wrote.

He has demanded Rs 9 crore as compensation for what he calls an “irreparable loss” to his liberty, dignity, and life trajectory. Among the specific damages he lists are physical and psychological torture during police custody; loss of crucial years of his youth, from age 28 to 37; permanent health complications, including glaucoma and chronic pain; emotional and financial ruin of his family, including the death of his father and mental health deterioration of his mother; educational setbacks for his children; and the collapse of his own academic and professional aspirations.

Shaikh has also claimed that he is under debt of Rs 30 lakh due to ongoing medical and related expenses following his release.

“This is not just about me. It’s about the idea that justice must also mean restitution. I lost almost a decade of my life. How do I rebuild from here without institutional support?” Shaikh said.