2008 Jaipur blasts: Four men get life sentence for serial bombings

A special court here on Tuesday sentenced four convicts to life imprisonment in a case related to the 2008 serial bomb blasts that rocked the Rajasthan capital and claimed 71 lives.

The four, Sarwar Azmi, Shahbaz, Saifur Rehman and Mohammad Saif, were convicted under various sections of Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act by the court on April 4.

The case relates to the recovery of an unexploded bomb planted in Chandpole on May 13, 2008.

Hearing the case, special court Judge Ramesh Kumar Joshi said that the convicts planted bombs in the city. In such a case, leniency cannot be considered, the judge said.

Special Public Prosecutor Sagar Tiwari said the court observed that the crime is not against any individual, but it impacts the entire society and the country.

"It is a matter of national security and sovereignty. The court said that it is committed to give strict punishment to such criminals who are a threat to the security of the country. The court also said that it is necessary to respect the victims who suffered pain," Tiwari told reporters.

He said that statements of a total of 112 witnesses were registered in the case.

The court rejected the arguments of defence counsel Minhajul Haq that the accused were serving jail term for the last 15 years and that they have been acquitted by the high court in eight other cases.

On May 13, 2008, eight bombs exploded in Jaipur and another bomb was found near Chandpole Bazar which was defused. The blasts claimed 71 lives and left 180 injured.

The serial blasts took place at Manak Chowk Khanda, Chandpole Gate, Badi Chaupad, Chhoti Chaupad, Tripolia Gate, Johri Bazar and Sanganeri Gate.

In separate cases related to the blasts, a court in December 2019 awarded the death penalty to Azmi, Saif, Rahman and one Mohammad Salman while acquitting the another accused Shahbaz, giving him the benefit of the doubt.

The death row convicts challenged their punishment in the high court, which acquitted them on March 29, 2023 and confirmed the acquittal of Shahbaz.