Supreme Court Rejects Video Hearing Plea in 2008 Ahmedabad Blasts Case
The Supreme Court has rejected a plea by death row convicts in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case seeking permission for their senior lawyer to argue virtually before the Gujarat High Court. The Court cited serious security concerns for judges and witnesses, holding that even a limited video link could expose proceedings to global risks.
A Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma noted that such a facility would be akin to live streaming, which might endanger judges in a highly sensitive terror case involving 56 deaths, 246 injuries, 6,000 exhibits and nearly 8 lakh pages of records. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the State, opposed the request, pointing out that security agencies had already flagged potential threats.
Senior Advocate Aparna Bhat, appearing for the convicts, argued that the request was based on practical issues as the senior counsel, based in Mumbai, could not stay in Ahmedabad for long hearings that often lasted just an hour each day.
The Court, however, stressed that while the defence must get full opportunity to present its case, the balance must be struck without compromising security. It directed the Gujarat High Court to ensure uninterrupted hearings for the Mumbai-based counsel whenever he argues in person, so that repeated travel is minimised. Convicts lodged in jail will continue to attend proceedings through existing video facilities.
The appeals and confirmation of death sentences in this case have been ongoing before a special bench of the Gujarat High Court since March 2025. The 2008 blasts, claimed by the Indian Mujahideen, killed 56 people and injured 246. In 2022, a special court convicted 49 accused—38 of them sentenced to death, and 11 to life imprisonment. It remains one of India’s largest terror trials, involving over 1,100 witnesses and nearly 80,000 documents.
