On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India stayed the execution of Ahmed Bawa alias Abbu Abubakar Barelvi, an Indian Mujahideen operative. Bawa, convicted for the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts that claimed 56 lives, was due to be hanged on the same day. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, A G Masih and Sandeep Mehta, issued the stay after reviewing the case.
Gujarat High Court had upheld 38 death sentences and 11 life sentences on July 7, citing the 56 fatalities, over 200 injuries, and the unprecedented attack on hospitals. The court highlighted the "humongous" conspiracy and the intent to spread widespread terror as key reasons for the harsh verdict.
The blasts, which struck 21 sites across Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, left 56 dead and more than 200 wounded; this marked the first time in India that medical facilities were deliberately targeted in a terror strike. The attack spanned about 70 minutes, causing chaos in the city’s heart and shaking the nation.
In its order, the bench issued a notice to the Gujarat government demanding full trial‑court records and also reiterated the court’s directive that the state pay ₹10 lakh to each bereaved family and ₹5 lakh to grievously injured victims by March 30, 2027. The compensation clause follows the High Court’s earlier directive and will be enforced through the state’s finance department.
The Supreme Court’s decision to stay the execution means the death sentence will remain in abeyance pending further examination of the trial records, while the Gujarat government prepares to meet the compensation deadline. A subsequent hearing is expected within the next fortnight to decide whether the execution can resume.