Namo 'endorses' Vice President Dhankhar's resignation .... says - " Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country"

 "Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji has got many opportunities to serve our country in various capacities, including as the Vice President of India. Wishing him good health," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He also wrote in Hindi:

श्री जगदीप धनखड़ जी को भारत के उपराष्ट्रपति सहित कई भूमिकाओं में देश की सेवा करने का अवसर मिला है। मैं उनके उत्तम स्वास्थ्य की कामना करता हूं।

President Droupadi Murmu on July 22 accepted Dhankhar's resignation and the President' Office has forwarded the same to the Home Ministry for official notification.

Dhankhar took over as 14th Vice President of India in August 2022 and was expected to serve a five-year term till August 2027. 

His resignation, which also means stepping down as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, came on the opening day of the Monsoon session of Parliament.

The missive from the Prime Minister makes it amply clear ... Namo 'endorses' Vice President Dhankhar's resignation 

Jagdeep Dhankhar had started his political career in Congress and then had joined the Janata Dal at a later stage. In recent times he moved closer to the BJP central leadership especially as a Jat leader considered enjoying good working rapport with Home Minister Amit Shah. 

In fact, as the season for making Dhankhar India's vice president had drawn closer another Jat politician Satya Pal Malik started developing differences with the BJP high command and a special bitterness with PM Narendra Modi and also Shah. 

Satya Pal Malik was a Rajnath Singh discovery from the Jat region of Uttar Pradesh and was Governor of Jammu and Kashmir between 23ed August, 2018 and 30th October 2019. Satya Pal Malik was the Governor in Srinagar in August 2019 when the much talked about Article 370 was abrogated. 

Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden announcement of resignation and Congress leaders including Pramod Tiwari and Jairam Ramesh showing new-found love for him is little puzzling.

Dhankhar had more often backed the Modi government on critical issues and also had embarrassed the Congress party more than once. 

In a letter addressed to President Droupadi Murmu, the 74-year-old Jagdeep Dhankhar said he was has decided to quit with 'immediate effect' to "prioritise healthcare" in line with medical advice.

Mr Dhankhar did have health issues in March this year.  

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh presided over the morning session on Tuesday in the absence of Jagdeep Dhankhar, who not only remained absent from the Upper House but is also unlikely to deliver his farewell speech.

Jagdeep Dhankhar's sudden resignation has stunned the Opposition and triggered intense political chatter, with many questioning the official reason behind his exit. 

Hours before stepping down, Dhankhar was seen interacting with senior leaders, showing no signs of any health concerns or imminent plans to quit.

Reacting sharply, the Congress on Tuesday suggested that the reasons behind the Vice President's resignation run "far deeper" than the health issues.

"In a truly unprecedented move, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar has resigned. He has given health reasons for doing so — those should be respected. But it is also a fact that there are far deeper reasons for his resignation," Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said. 

He is lately known for 'interpreting ideas' processed by Rahul Gandhi. 

Shashi Tharoor's isolation from the Congress command structure was also said to be works of Jairam and K C Venugopal. 

In political circle there is now speculation on successor for Jagdeep Dhankhar. Names being featured in some discussions are Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh - both former BJP national presidents. 

While Rajnath is known for 'no harm' methodology vis-a-vis 'Do badan - ek atma leadership'. Nitin Gadkari is known as a confidant of Nagpur and not quite friendly towards the political hegemony of Modi-Shah duo.

Now not only BJP national president; all eyes will be on who becomes India's next vice president. 

M Venkaiah Naidu may come back to the position he relinquished in 2022.  

There are also speculation about mega cabinet reshuffle and if social media is to be given any credence; even Congress leader Shashi Tharoor may make it big.  

This could be a move to elevate Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the new Vice President so that Amit Shah could be made No. 2 in the cabinet and also designated as Deputy Prime Minister.  

This would bring an end to nationwide and also an international speculation on who would succeed PM Modi. 

Will the entire process (some truth and some speculated) ultimately help BJP finalise its new president?

Apparently, the RSS has vetoed the name of Union Minister(s) Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupender Yadav. Both these ministers are also considered very close to Amit Shah.  

Vocal lawmaker from Jharkhand Nishikant Dubey recently threw a challenge to those who could be toying with the idea of retirement for Modi and said without Namo, the BJP's strength in 2029 elections could drop to 150.

Is RSS reconciling to the idea of again encouraging a regime led by Congress and supported by communists which had mooted the theory of 'saffron terror' ? 

ends 

Jagdeep Dhankar's resignation ::: What happened between 1 pm and 4.30 pm on July 21, first day of Monsoon Session

Was Jagdeep Dhankhar 'snubbed'? 

Why J P Nadda and Kiren Rijiju skipped key Rajya Sabha meet convened by Vice President on July 21 ?

"Something very serious" happened between 1 pm and 4.30 pm to account for the deliberate absence of Nadda and Rijiju from the second BAC.

Congress leader Pramod Tiwari says, "This is shocking, I would urge him to reconsider. He was well-versed in parliamentary knowledge and served as a voice for the farmers. This is a dark day in parliamentary history when a Vice President is unable to complete his term...".   

Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP N K Premchandran says, "...This cannot be believed...I don't think it's due to health reasons...Yesterday, the entire proceedings of the house were controlled and chaired by him...Health reasons alone cannot be the sole reason for resignation. Maybe some other political reason or other reason...". 

On Tuesday, both the Houses of Parliament adjourned till 12 noon. Pandemonium over Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar's resignation and other issues 

Jagdeep Dhankhar was disappointed over the absence of key ministers JP Nadda and Kiren Rijiju at the crucial Business Advisory Committee meeting on Monday evening.  

As Governor of West Bengal, Dhankhar had regular problems with Mamata regime 

The first meeting of Rajya Sabha Business Advisory Committee (BAC) was held at 12.30 pm and was reportedly attended by most members, including Nadda and Rijiju. 

After some discussion, the BAC decided to reconvene at 4.30 pm. However, when the meeting resumed, both ministers were absent. In their absence, Union Minister L Murugan represented the government at the second meeting.  

On the resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, BJP MP Dr Bhagwat Kishanrao Karad says, "...Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was also admitted to AIIMS some days ago...He resigned due to health reasons". 

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury says, "...If his health has deteriorated, he could have been admitted to AIIMS...Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar is a Jaat. Everything is fine, but there is a strange virus in the BJP...".

In the meantime, the Supreme Court issues notice to the Union and all State governments seeking their responses to a reference sent by President Droupadi Murmu on whether the court can fix a timeline for the Governor or the President to give their assent to Bills passed by the State assemblies. 

A five-judge (Constitutional) bench of the Supreme Court led by CJI B R Gavai listed the matter to be heard next Tuesday.

ends 

Will Rajnath become new Vice Prez and Amit Shah the 'deputy PM' ?? ::::: Jagdeep Dhankhar stuns nation by his resignation ... more because of timing ::: Episode triggers Season of Speculation and Rumour mongering

 It's billed as Day 1 -- Surprise No. 1 vis-a-vis the Monsoon session of parliament that got underway on July 21, Monday.

This is first parliament session after epoch making and unique military adventure Operation Sindoor. It comes on the backdrop of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat asking Netas to retire voluntarily at the age of 75. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaches 75 on Sept 17, 2025.  

The resignation also coincides as 200 MPs from both the Houses have petitioned Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to kick off the process for impeachment of a judge over the cash controversy. 

Now all eyes are on the next move from the government especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his trusted aide and Home Minister Amit Shah.  

The Congress smells a rat in the episode and has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to persuade Dhankhar to reconsider his decision, suggesting that reversing the resignation would be beneficial for the nation. 

"This will be in the nation's interest. The farming community particularly will be greatly relieved," said Jairam Ramesh -- a veiled reference to Jat community to which Dhankhar belongs.  But Congress developing sudden love for Dhankhar is surprising as time and again the Vice President has rather backed the Modi government on complex political issues and also left Congress and other opposition parties embarrassed.  

One Trinamool Congress MP had mimicked Dhankhar’s voice, walk and mannerisms on the steps of Parliament in New Delhi on 19 December, 2023 during protests at his suspension from the Lower house (Lok Sabha) – along with 142 other opposition MPs – for unruly behaviour.

Dhankhar called the mimicry caught on video, “shameful, ridiculous and unacceptable”. 

“I am a sufferer,” he had said. The mimicry was also allegedly video graphed by Congress leaders.  

In 2022, speaking in the Rajya Sabha as the chairman, Dhankhar once said Sonia Gandhi's statement that he government is seeking to "delegitimise the judiciary" was far distanced from his reflections as delegitimising the judiciary is beyond his contemplation. 

"The observations are severely inappropriate, indicating a lack of faith in democracy," he had said.  

On Monday (July 21, 2025), highlighting Dhankhar's proactive role, Ramesh pointed out that he had scheduled a Business Advisory Committee meeting and intended to make significant judiciary-related announcements.

"He had fixed a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee tomorrow (Tuesday) at 1 pm. He was also to make some major announcements related to the judiciary tomorrow," Jairam Ramesh tweeted. 

Communist Party of India (CPI) MP P Sandosh Kumar said the development is quite unexpected and -- "we don't know what the reasons are".

"I don't think that the president of India will accept it. This might be an initial reaction from his side. He might be dissatisfied with some developments," Kumar said.

Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal praised Dhankhar as a patriot and said since he had cited health reasons for his decision, it should be accepted and one should move forward. 

Interpretation and Speculation: 

However, the announccment of resignation has kicked a virtual season of whispering in the corridors of power and also speculation and interpretation by analysts.  

One version  -- the resignation may facilitate Ntish Kumar's "shift" to Delhi as the new Vice President. 

Another interpretation is Jagdeep Dhankhar did not want to continue on chair as chairman Rajya Sabha when a sitting judge would be impeached. 

Another version suggests - this could be a move to elevate Defence Minister Rajnath Singh as the new Vice President so that Amit Shah could be made No. 2 in the cabinet and also designated as Deputy Prime Minister.  

This could bring an end to nationwide and also an international speculation on who would succeed PM Modi. 

Will the entire process (some truth and some speculated) ultimately help BJP finalise its new president. Apparently, the RSS has vetoed the name of Union Minister(s) Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupender Yadav.

Both these ministers are considered very close to Amit Shah.  

On these lines, this blogger would not be surprised if Nitin Gadkari, a Brahmin RSS=backed leader,  is made new chairman Rajya Sabha and also new Vice President.

 

Gadkari is a former BJP president and in 2013 he had to resign over corruption charges. 

It is anybody's guess whether as BJP national president in 2013; Gadkari would have helped Modi being declared as BJP's prime ministerial candidate. 

ends 

 

A Spl Interview on Naga Talks :::: “NNPGs laid the foundation for Inclusive and pragmatic Solution in 2017”

 Face to Face: 

“NNPGs laid the foundation for Inclusive and pragmatic Solution to the Naga problem in 2017”

G. Naga is Kilonser, GPRN/NSCN (Kitovi faction) and also Secretary, Working Committee, NNPG 

He is also Supervisor for Ceasefire Supervisory Board and a part of Ceasefire Monitoring Group 

Question: 

The July 17th meeting is being hyped. In 2017 also such an effort was made. In 2017, we got the Agreed Position and the Status Paper .... but in the ultimate the final Solution Agreement did not come?

G Naga (GPRN/NSCN-Kitovi) : Well, it is not a hype ... I am afraid. It is rather a continuous evolution of the subject matter. Factually yes, Solution did not happen as desired because of many factors. 

That doesn't mean we did nothing to take corrective steps. All six groups have now come forward for a joint meeting on July 17th with the government interlocutor Mr A K Mishra. 

Inclusivity is paramount and hopefully all our other Naga entities ... leadership will eventually strengthen the common process.  This meeting that is, 17th July 2025, will go a long way because I sense a strong socio-political base for early Solution has been reignited. 

  

Question: 

On this backdrop, can I ask you ... what about the future roadmap ?

G Naga : 

The future roadmap is to work harder for an acceptable and honorable political solution, without erasing Naga identity and history. This is the basis of the Agreed Position.

As long as the Govt of India respects the negotiated matters and walk the talk on that agreed principle, there is a clear hope of enduring peace. These occasional meets may excite you and few of your friends but for me it is the same uneasy feeling which perhaps my grandfather too felt in 1947. 

The Govt of India will either respect our history, identity and give Nagas adequate space to flourish and coexist with it as a people or hurt Naga sentiment and force us to react. 

Equation hasn't changed much really since India's independence.

Question: 

Do you think the GoI is serious enough on resolving the Naga issue?   

G Naga: 

In life one has to take all the necessary steps to maintain peace and ensure all round development, without losing one's identity, history and culture. This recognition is a political necessity. 

I believe the GoI has more clarity now than let's say ten years ago. Nagas are glad that the Govt of India took keen interest to revive the talks which got stalled somehow due to commercialization of the Indo-Naga issue and selfish agenda of vested interest parties. 

Thankfully, the Govt of India now knows the pulse of the villagers on the ground as well as that of the scoundrels at the top plucking the cherries of statehood whilst cursing the signatories.

Question: 

What was it like on the ground in 2017 when the GoI and NNPGs Negotiation began?

G Naga: 

I really thank God for the Naga leaders who signed the Agreed Position. It wasn't your typical lone wolf kind of negotiation. Nor was it two or three leaders behind closed door churning out hundreds of pages framing Utopian notion of Naga solution. From the very first day, the idea was to take the message of the masses based on Naga history and identity to the Indian government. 

On the eve, the NNPG negotiating team was meeting Tribal Hohos and numerous Naga civil societies everyday. Upon arrival at Delhi, they were a tight knit group constantly brainstorming on all matters and on most days. There was a prominent group of elderly Naga intellectuals, eminent tribal leaders, GBs, and prayer warriors who were a constant source of strength and communicated either over phone or met in person. 

It was motivation and hard work in the run up to the signing of the Agreed Position. We set  things closer to reality. Our Status Paper was very elaborate. 

We handled issues very carefully and every negotiated point was put to paper, signed and sealed. Naga leader and NNPG convener N Kitovi Zhimomi took a bold step; If GoI recognises Naga historical and political rights, Nagas must reciprocate in equal measure and respect GoI's position. 

Only then, Naga sentiment will be respected. 

We had to engage a number of constitutional luminaries who understood the Indo-Naga political conflict as well as the limitations and possibilities in the legal spectrum. Negotiations can't be done through oratory skills alone. 

Putting things on record for posterity is what matters. I believe former interlocutor Mr R N Ravi was taken aback by our meticulous system. It was an ingenious move. 

He noticed our way of negotiations having more accountability instead of losing the way in laborious rhetoric and philosophical questionnaires. 

Question:

What is that in the Status paper that fascinates or excites you the most?

G Naga:

You see my friend, the mass has a different perception. They ridicule us on media platforms, throw us to the wolves with a preconceived mind. Fair enough, we understand that a society like ours is  divided to the marrow by tribalism and sadly Naga nationalism is like an old hermit, isolated, ill-treated when seen through tribal prism. 

I can tell you today, the NNPG in effect laid the foundation for an Inclusive and pragmatic Solution to Naga problem in 2017. 

Nevertheless, the Status Paper has a new historical setting prepared for our people be it in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh or Assam. I can vouch for it that once the Agreement is implemented, someday our people will realise that it was the only practical and historically correct decision at a given time. 

Question

You sound quite optimistic now...

G Naga 

I hope that today's vilification of Naga National Political groups will eventually change and give way to political, social, cultural and economic regeneration of Naga lands and people in Nagaland, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. 

I am not excited as such but I am convinced that very soon if GoI exhibits political will, if GoI has the spine, Nagas will experience tremendous positive transformation from the grassroots to the apex and it will be in the interest of both the Govt of India and Nagas.

Question : 

So we may get the broader consensus sooner than later. The patience seems to have worked.  

G Naga : 

Patience does pays. That's a very old saying. So, now we expect all Naga stakeholders to seriously commit to the process and come forward. 

Individual differences will always be there but to my understanding, the boilover do not spill across to the Govt of India table. Solution and peace is the language on the ground. Some people have taken risk to bring home solution while others will take equal risk to sabotage solution. We know one hundred percent acceptability may not come. 

The emphasis now is to go for an early Agreement to be inked. New Delhi must not waste time on those churning different stories. The focus must shift to comprehensive common draft.

I feel the next couple of months or so will be very crucial. More Naga political entities may join in the next round of deliberations. 

That would broaden the horizon for all stakeholders.

Question:

So finally, we may call it a new beginning to achieve the much needed Inclusive Solution. 

G Naga:

For something as sensitive as the Naga issue, there's a long distance between the cup and the lip. Yes, we've had the latest meeting on a good note but history tells us that saboteurs could spring up from any corner inventing outrageous stories to mislead the common man. 

Many civil society leaders could succumb to pressure and intimidation. Also, the lure of honorary positions and personal benefits could force many into their shells. 

Question:

Then New Delhi also must be more than cautious .....

G Naga :

The Govt of India is well aware of this dimension in the Naga context. New Delhi's position and the Naga position has clarity through intense negotiations. Our apex tribal bodies, hereditary chieftains, the Church, intellectuals, mothers, student bodies and concerned citizens have all invested heavily in the current political process and rightly, they are the real stakeholders. 

The working committee of NNPGs has reconnected the dots, heralded a  correct  space and time for a crucial political exercise. 

Every Naga is deeply affected by the failure to arrive at a solution. What we achieved on July 17th could be called a baby step and it was a vital one. 

I hope this time Nagas would insist on a political solution that would not only entrench our history and identity but also give wings to our future generations to co-exist with India.

ends

G Naga and his 'friend' /blogger 

Mega surprise :::: Day 1 Monsoon Session of Parliament Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns citing health

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns on Day 1 of Monsoon Session 

Congress says ... there could be more to it than the health reasons

Serving as Vice President since 2022, the 74-year-old made the surprise announcement on Monday, July 21, after chairing the first day of the Monsoon Session in Rajya Sabha. 

Under Article 67 of the Constitution, which deals with the term of office of the Vice President, Dhankhar will continue to hold office until his successor is elected.

By tendering his resignation, Jagdeep Dhankhar became the seventh Vice President to step down before completing the full five-year term. 

"To prioritise health care and abide by medical advice, I hereby resign as the Vice President of India, effective immediately, in accordance with Article 67(a) of the Constitution," Dhankhar stated in a letter released by the Vice President's office.

Thanking the President, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dhankhar further wrote: "I extend my deepest gratitude to Your Excellency - the Hon'ble President of India for her unwavering support and the soothing wonderful working relationship we maintained during my tenure. 

I express my deep gratitude to the Hon'ble Prime Minister and the esteemed Council of Ministers. Prime Minister's cooperation and support have been invaluable, and I have learned much during my time in office."

While chairing the Upper House today, Jagdeep Dhankhar said he had received a letter signed by more than 50 Rajya Sabha members requesting the constitution of a committee for the removal of Justice Varma.

Dhankhar, then, directed the Secretary General of the Rajya Sabha "to find out whether a similar motion has been moved in the Lok Sabha."

"This is being done in accordance with the procedure. If the motion is presented in both houses on different days, the motion presented first is alone taken into consideration. If it's on the same day, provisions are different," Dhankhar had said today.

Interestingly, Dhankhar, while mentioning the Justice Yashwant Varma impeachment case, said that one of the 55 signatures had been duplicated, ordering an inquiry.  

In recent times, Dhankhar has been vocal in his criticism of the judiciary, asserting that "Parliament is supreme." 

The outgoing Vice President had criticised the Supreme Court for setting a timeline for the President and Governor to sign bills passed by state governments, saying, "So, we have judges who will legislate, who will perform executive functions, who will act as a super Parliament and have absolutely no accountability because the law of the land does not apply to them."  

Dhankhar said as he leaves the esteemed office, he is “filled with pride in Bharat's global rise and phenomenal achievements and hold unwavering confidence in her brilliant future.”

The Constitution does not specify who performs the duties of the Vice President of India when a vacancy occurs in the office before the expiry of term, or when the Vice President acts as the President of India.

The only constitutional provision related to this situation concerns the Vice-President’s role as the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States). In such cases, the deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, or another member authorised by the President of India, assumes this responsibility during the vacancy.   

The Congress party expressed surprise at the sudden resignation of Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, saying it is "totally unexpected" and there is far more to it than meets the eye.

"The sudden resignation of the vice president and chairman of the Rajya Sabha is as shocking as it is inexplicable. I was with him alongside a number of other MPs till around 5 pm today and had spoken to him over the phone at 7:30 pm," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

"No doubt Mr Dhankar has to give topmost priority to his health. But clearly there is far more to his totally unexpected resignation than meets the eye. This is not the time for speculation though. Mr Dhankar took both the government and the opposition to task in equal measure. 

He had fixed a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee tomorrow at 1 PM. He was also to make some major announcements related to the judiciary tomorrow," Ramesh said in a post on X.  

Former Minister Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal hailed him as a patriot and said since he had cited health reasons for his decision, it should be accepted and one should move forward.

On Bihar SIR, Union Minister Giriraj Singh says : "Election Commission is working in the interest of the country" :::: "Justice will be served when Pahalgam terrorists are caught"

 On Bihar SIR, Union Minister Giriraj Singh says, "I think those (opposition) raising such questions should have knowledge of the Constitution. The Election Commission is doing its job. In Bihar, the Election Commission is doing exactly what the Constitution says. 

They have only asked two questions: Are they (voters) Indian citizens or not? Are they fake or genuine?... The Election Commission is working in the interest of the country."

On PM Narendra Modi hailing Operation Sindoor as a 'Vijay Utsav', BJP MP Brijmohan Agarwal says, "Certainly, this session should be a victory session, demonstrating to the entire world through Operation Sindoor what India's strength is...Unfortunately, the opposition always speaks negatively...".  

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "The operation Sindoor launched by our army was a befitting reply to Pakistan, which has been found involved in terrorist attacks and activities. Under Operation Sindoor, I went to several countries on behalf of India to present India’s perspective, but I believe the real victory and celebration will happen only when those terrorists, whom we have not yet caught, are apprehended and given the death penalty. 

Justice will be served to those families only when these terrorists, who are still at large, are caught."  

"Dialogue and discussion, not conflict, are the way forward": RS Chairman presses for meaningful session amid Opposition ruckus 

Repeated adjournments mark day 1 of #MonsoonSession of Parliament ... Lok Sabha again adjourned till 2 pm. Question Hour could not be taken up earlier in Lok Sabha. 

Rajya Sabha also was adjourned. 

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday termed US President Donald Trump's repeated claims that he mediated between India and Pakistan to bring about a ceasefire during Operation Sindoor in May as "humiliating" for the country.

He asked the government for a clarification on the issue.

Kharge, and other Congress party members also demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should give answers to the issues raised by them regarding the Pahalgam terror attack and Trump's claims on ceasefire during Operation Sindoor.

The House witnessed a brief adjournment due to opposition uproar during the Zero Hour, and also a walkout by Congress.

2006 7/11 Mumbai blasts ::::Accused who will walk free after spending nearly 2 decades behind bars, belong to different classes, professions -- from ex SIMI students, engineers and doctors to shopkeepers

Accused Kamal Ansari was a resident of Basopatti in Madhubani district of Bihar. He had been accused of receiving arms training in Pakistan and ferrying two Pakistani terrorists from across the Indo-Nepal border and dropping them in Mumbai. He was also accused of planting the bomb that exploded at Matunga. He expired in 2021 in custody. 

Ehtesham Qutbuddin Siddiqui was on death row. He was charged with harbouring Pakistanis, surveying trains, assembling the bombs, and planting the bomb which went off in Mira-Bhayandar.

(A series of bombs exploded on seven western suburban coaches, killing 189 commuters and injuring 824 on July 11, 2006.

Seventeen years after being charged in one of the most devastating terror attacks in the country’s history, all 12 men convicted in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case were acquitted by the Bombay High Court on Monday, July 21.) 

The court overturned a 2015 verdict by a special court set up under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) that had handed death sentences to five men and life terms to seven others. One person was acquitted earlier. 

Kamal Ansari was the youngest son of Vakil Ansari, who served as a tailor in the Indian Army.

Kamal was said to have been a frequent visitor to Nepal, which is a 45-minute ride from his village. 

Kamal, who dabbled in various businesses, including selling poultry meat and repairing cycles, was on the police radar and had earlier been arrested in a counterfeit currency racket.  

Suburb Mira Road-based Faisal Shaikh was accused of being the head of Lashkar-e-Toiba’s (LeT) Mumbai unit and convicted for being the key financier of the Mumbai train blast. 

He was accused of planning the conspiracy, obtaining hawala money to fund it, harbouring Pakistanis, assembling bombs, and planting them.

Faisal is the eldest of three sons of Attaur Rahman, who worked in Saudi Arabia. 

The family, which spent some time in Pune, shifted to Mira Road, where Shaikh was allegedly indoctrinated by SIMI. In June 2001, he obtained a legitimate Indian passport, hoping to travel to Pakistan. 

Six months later, in January 2002, Faisal allegedly crossed the border on the Samjhauta Express and trained with the LeT in Muzaffarabad and Lahore.

The case pertains to explosions on seven western suburban coaches in Mumbai, killing 189 commuters and injuring 824 on July 11, 2006. Calling the prosecution’s case flawed and inconsistent, the court flagged unreliable witness testimonies, irregularities in identification parades, and the failure to establish even the type of explosive devices used.  

Accused Ehtesham Qutbuddin Siddiqui was on death row. He was charged with harbouring Pakistanis, surveying trains, assembling the bombs, and planting the bomb which went off in Mira-Bhayandar.  

The son of Qutbuddin Siddiqui, who worked in the Gulf, Ehtesham Siddiqui left his hometown of Jaunpur in Uttar Pradesh and came to Maharashtra, enrolling himself in an engineering college in Pen. He, however, dropped out soon after and was reportedly drawn to SIMI.

In 2001, he was picked up from a library in Kurla run by SIMI and booked. He had been on the police radar since then. Siddiqui subsequently started his own publishing business, printing books under the Shahadah Publishing House brand. Siddiqui also served as an office-bearer of SIMI’s Maharashtra unit.

The police claimed to have seized jihadi literature, including books like Jihad Fi Sabilillah (Crusade in the Name of Allah) and Jihadi Azkaar (Tales of Crusaders). Interestingly, these “objectionable books” were found to be freely available across Mumbai. 

Accused Shaikh Mohammed Ali Alam had moved to Dubai. A resident of Shivaji Nagar, one of the under developed areas in Mumbai, Mohammed Ali also worked at a cooperative bank.  

He was charged with assembling bombs at his house in Govandi with the help of Pakistanis who had sneaked into India. On return from Dubai he started his own business of supplying Unani medicines.

Police charge was that Mohammed Ali used to procure medicines from Hyderabad and distribute them to Unani doctors. During this time, he started working as a SIMI operative.

He had been booked for being a member of SIMI and was summoned by the police even after the 2002 and 2003 blasts in Mumbai. 

His 100-square-foot house was allegedly used by over a dozen of the conspirators to assemble the bombs.

Mohammed Sajid Murgub Ansari was a resident of Mira Road.

He was alleged to have procured timers for the bombs. He also allegedly harboured two of the Pakistanis.

Sajid ran a mobile repairing shop in Naya Nagar and had fallen under the sway of extremist ideology. The police claimed that his technical know-how was used in the entire conspiracy.

Sajid seems to have found solace in filing Right to Information (RTI) applications and collecting literature published by central government agencies.

Muzammil Ataur Rahman Shaikh

A software engineer, Muzammil, 40, was supposed to have been trained in Pakistan and had surveyed the local trains. He is the youngest accused in the case, and two of his brothers — Faisal and Raahil — are believed to be the main planners of the conspiracy. Raahil was never caught.

Muzammil had joined Oracle Corporation in Bengaluru as a software engineer. 

The Bangalore police picked him up on July 13, 2006 but let him off as he was not in Mumbai on the day of the train blasts. They later tipped off the Mumbai police about him after his brother Faisal was held.

Locals in Mira Road later said Muzammil was a good student. 

Pune-based Suhail Mehmood Shaikh was supposed to have taken arms training in Pakistan and surveyed the trains to be targeted.

A resident of Bhimpura Lane in Pune’s Camp area, Suhail is the eldest in the family and earned a living doing zari work and clothing alterations. Known to be pious, he was educated in an English school and also acted as a faith healer.

He is supposed to have visited Iran, which his family claims was to set up a dry fruits business. 

In police records, he was known as a SIMI operative and was arrested after the organisation was banned. 

Zameer Ahmed Latifur Rehman Shaikh comes from Worli. He was accused of training in Pakistan, surveying trains, and attending conspiracy meetings. 

He did his schooling at Khairul Islam High School in Mominpura and completed his graduation from Maharashtra College in Nagpada in 1996. 

It was in the early 2000s that he supposedly came into contact with the other accused. He is also said to have travelled abroad. Zameer’s family, however, claimed that he had gone out of the country in search of a job but returned after failing to find one.

Other accused and who will now walk free also include  

Naveed Hussain Khan Rasheed, a call centre employee. Rasheed was born in Kuwait and is supposed to have returned with his family after the death of his mother. According to reports, his mother was a Pakistani citizen who worked as an Islamic teacher in Kuwait. The family had purchased a flat in Mira Road, and Naveed had developed a strong friendship with Faisal Shaikh.

Civil engineer Asif Khan Bashir Khan -- was alleged to have harboured the Pakistani terrorists at Mira Road. He was responsible for procuring the pressure cookers and helped in assembling the bombs. He was also accused of planting the bomb that went off in Borivali.

After the blasts, Khan left the city and shifted to Belgaum. He was the last accused to be arrested in the case. His family, however, claims that he was working in his office when the blast occurred.

Those serving life sentences:

Tanveer Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim Ansari

Tanveer Ansari, 50, is a resident of Agripada and was convicted of attending terror camps in Pakistan and surveying local trains in which the blasts took place. Tanveer, who has eight siblings, completed his degree in Unani medicine from Nagpur and got associated with SIMI. He denies his association with the outfit but was part of a relief team organised by the group and sent to Gujarat after the January 2001 earthquake. He was picked up months later and booked by the Mumbai police after he was found sitting at a library operated by SIMI, which had been banned by then.

Mohammed Majid Mohammed Shafi

Majid Shafi, 46, was convicted for helping six Pakistanis cross over into India through the Bangladesh border. The youngest of 12 siblings, Majid operated a footwear shop in the Raja Bazaar area of Kolkata. The police claimed that he was operating a hawala racket and would frequently cross the porous Indo-Bangladesh border. His family, however, claimed that they had relatives in Bangladesh and visits to the country were frequent. His family also asserted that the clean-shaven Majid never had any terror links or showed signs of radicalisation. Interestingly, Majid was known to be friendly with local police personnel, and his shop was a regular haunt for beat constables in the locality. He also claimed to have never visited Mumbai in his lifetime.

 Suhail Mehmood Shaikh

Pune resident Suhail Shaikh, 55, was supposed to have taken arms training in Pakistan and surveyed the trains to be targeted. A resident of Bhimpura Lane in Pune’s Camp area, Suhail is the eldest in the family and earned a living doing zari work and clothing alterations. Known to be pious, he was educated in an English school and also acted as a faith healer.

He is supposed to have visited Iran, which his family claims was to set up a dry fruits business. In police records, he was known as a SIMI operative and was arrested after the organisation was banned. He had been under surveillance since the ban was enforced.

ends 

2006 Mumbai train blasts: All 12 convicts, including 5 on death row, acquitted :::: "...witnesses remained silent for unusually long periods, then suddenly identified the accused"

Nearly two decades after the 2006 Mumbai train bombings killed 189 people, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 men convicted in the case, citing unreliable evidence and forced confessions.  

"The defence had raised serious questions about the test identification parade. Many witnesses remained silent for unusually long periods, some over four years, and then suddenly identified the accused. This is abnormal," the bench noted.

The Bombay High Court on Monday acquitted all 12 men who were convicted of the 2006 Mumbai train bombings that killed 189 people and injured over 800. Out of the 12, five convicts were on death row. The acquittal came nearly two decades after the serial blasts shook Mumbai's suburban railway network.

A special bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Shyam Chandak read out the operative part of the order, pointing out serious flaws in the prosecution's case. The court observed that key witnesses were unreliable, identification parades were questionable, and confessional statements were extracted through torture.

(Indian forensic experts collect samples from a damaged coach at the site of a bomb blast, at Kandivli in Mumbai, 12 July 2006.- snap 'India Today')

One witness, the court found, had deposed in multiple unrelated crime branch cases, including the Ghatkopar blast case, making his testimony 'unreliable'. Several others failed to explain how they could suddenly recall and identify the accused after years.

The judges also highlighted procedural lapses. "Some witnesses were not even examined during the trial. As for recoveries like RDX and other explosive material, the prosecution could not establish that the evidence was sacrosanct until it reached the Forensic Science Laboratory," the bench said.

Observing "non-application of mind", the High Court concluded that the prosecution had "thoroughly failed" to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. "It is difficult to say that the prosecution can sustain its charges," the bench held, quashing the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court's October 2015 judgment that had sentenced five to death and seven to life imprisonment.  

Of the 12 originally convicted, one, Kamal Ansari, died in 2021 due to Covid-19 while lodged in Nagpur prison. The remaining 11, who have spent 19 years behind bars, are now set to walk free.

Advocate Yug Mohit Chaudhry, representing some of the accused, said, "This judgment will be a sign of hope for those wrongly incarcerated". The bench responded, "We did our duty and it was our responsibility".

Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare, while acknowledging the verdict, said the judgment would serve as a "guiding light" for future trials.

The 2006 Mumbai train blasts remain one of India's deadliest terror attacks, with seven bombs exploding in first-class compartments during peak hours on the Western Railway line.