Mumbai 2011 Triple Blasts Case: Special MCOCA Court Grants Bail To Accused Citing Prolonged Incarceration And Trial Delay
Mumbai, August 12, 2026: The special MCOCA court on Wednesday granted bail to Zainul Shaikh, one of the accused in the 13/7 serial blast case that took place in 2011, on the ground of prolonged incarceration of nearly 15 years. On July 13, 2011, three bomb blasts occurred at Opera House, Zaveri Bazar and Dadar, resulting in the deaths of 27 persons and injuries to 127 others. The probe was later…
On August 12, 2026, the special MCOCA court in Mumbai granted bail to Zainul Shaikh, one of the accused in the 2011 Mumbai triple blasts case, citing prolonged imprisonment and a delay in the trial. The blasts took place on July 13, 2011, at Opera House, Zaveri Bazar, and Dadar, killing 27 people and injuring 127 others. Shaikh was arrested in 2012 and has been in prison ever since.
His lawyer argued that there had been a delay in the trial and that the other accused had also been granted bail due to this delay and the lack of substantial evidence against Shaikh. The defense claimed Shaikh's alleged confessional statement was involuntary and not reliable. Special Public Prosecutor Ajay Missar opposed the bail plea, arguing that there was enough evidence against Shaikh.
He noted that when the other accused received bail in April 2026, only 202 witnesses had been examined, while 227 witnesses had been examined by then. Special Judge Satyanarayan R. Navander granted bail, acknowledging that Shaikh had been incarcerated for about 15 years and that merely examining more witnesses did not justify denying parity to Shaikh.
The court recognized the progress in the trial but upheld the constitutional principle against prolonged deprivation of personal liberty.
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