2008 ‘live bomb’ case: 4 sentenced to life imprisonment by Jaipur court

Special Public Prosecutor Sagar Tiwari said that the court said that this case doesn’t affect just one person but that it is an attack on the “sovereignty and integrity” of the nation. Minhaj ul Haque, lawyer for the convicts, said that they will file an appeal in the High Court after going through the 600-page order.

Earlier, following an appeal, the Rajasthan High Court had in March 2023 overturned the death sentence by a trial court and acquitted Saifur Rehman, Mohammad Said, Sarwar Azmi and Mohammed Salman, while upholding the acquittal of Shahbaz Hussain, in the serial blasts case. As the BJP attacked the Congress government in the state, a Special Leave Petition was filed in the apex court where it is pending since.

On May 13, 2008, a total of nine bombs had exploded in eight locations – all in Jaipur’s crowded old city – between 7:20 pm and 7:45 pm, killing 71 and injuring 185. The first of the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts, each set inside a bag on a new cycle – was near Manak Chowk. It was followed by blasts near Badi Chaupar, Johari Bazar, near Hanuman temple at Sanganeri Gate, near Choti Chaupar, Tripolia Bazar, in front of Kotwali police station, and two blasts near Hanuman temple at Chandpole. The live bomb was found on a bicycle near shop number 17, in front of Ramchandraji temple, Chandpole, which was defused.

A day after the blast, in an email sent to news channels and news agencies on May 14, 2008, the Indian Mujahideen (IM) had claimed responsibility for the attack.