By Alok Mohit
Patna: The Patna High Court on Wednesday commuted the death sentences of four convicts to 30 years’ imprisonment in the 2013 Gandhi Maidan bomb blast case, while upholding the life sentences of two others.
A division bench comprising Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Jitendra Kumar had earlier reserved its judgement after completing hearings. Upon pronouncing the modified sentences, the bench commuted the death penalties of Imtiaz Alam, Haider Ali, Numan Ansari, and Mojibullah Ansari to life imprisonment. However, the bench upheld the life sentences awarded to Mohammad Umer Siddiqui and Azharuddin Qureshi by the trial court, stating that the sentences were appropriate.
The Gandhi Maidan serial blasts occurred on 27th October 2013 during the ‘Hunkar Rally’ organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which was attended by Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat. The first explosion took place at 9.30 am near platform no. 10 of Patna Junction railway station, followed by another blast at Gandhi Maidan around 11.40 am, shortly before Modi’s address. A total of seven blasts occurred at the rally venue.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case on 31st October 2013, owing to its severity and potential links to organised terrorism. In 2021, NIA Special Judge Gurvinder Singh Malhotra sentenced nine individuals in connection with the blasts. Four of these, including Haider Ali, Numan Ansari, Majibullah Ansari, and Imtiaz Alam, were given the death penalty.
While modifying the trial court’s verdict, the high court stated that the evidence was insufficient to conclude that the four convicts were beyond reformation. The bench noted their young age, lack of trans-border connections, and absence of any disruptive behaviour during their incarceration. Consequently, the court found that a 30-year fixed term would be just and sufficient for the crimes committed.
