20 Explosions, 56 Dead, 7.88 Lakh Pages & 38 Death Sentences: The 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts And Trial

Published 7 July 2026 · local

20 Explosions, 56 Dead, 7.88 Lakh Pages & 38 Death Sentences: The 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts And Trial Written By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026

20 Explosions, 56 Dead, 7.88 Lakh Pages & 38 Death Sentences: The 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts And Trial Written By, Last Updated: July 07, 2026, 18:15 IST Nearly 18 years later, the Gujarat High Court, on July 7, delivered its verdict in the case, upholding the death sentence for 38 convicts and the life imprisonment for 11 others Rapid Read 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts and Trial: The attackers struck 20 locations across the city. On the evening of July 26, 2008, the financial capital of Gujarat was rocked by 20 coordinated bomb blasts within 60 minutes, leaving 56 people dead. Nearly 18 years later, the Gujarat High Court, on July 7, 2026, delivered its verdict in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case, upholding the death sentence for 38 convicts and the life imprisonment for 11 others, bringing one of the country’s longest and most complex terror trials closer to its legal conclusion. 20 BLASTS IN 60 MINUTES What began as a routine Saturday evening soon turned into one of the darkest days in Ahmedabad’s history. The attackers struck 20 locations across the city in a coordinated assault. Crowded markets, public transport and busy public spaces were among the targets. In a particularly chilling move, the terrorists also targeted hospitals where victims of the initial explosions had been taken for treatment, triggering fresh panic and casualties. The serial blasts claimed 56 lives, while over 200 people sustained injuries.

Soon after the attacks, the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen claimed responsibility through an email sent to media organisations. Date & Time: July 26, 2008. Scale: 21 synchronized bomb explosions ripped through 20 locations within a 70-minute window. Casualties: 56 people were killed, and over 200 others sustained injuries. Targets: Government-run Civil Hospital, LG Hospital, public buses, parked cars, and bicycles. Motive: Orchestrated by the Indian Mujahideen as retaliation for the 2002 post-Godhra riots. Surat Bombs: Two days later, 15 unexploded live bombs were recovered and defused in Surat. 78 ACCUSED, 1,163 WITNESSES The Ahmedabad serial blasts case went on to become one of the largest criminal trials in the country’s judicial history. A total of 78 accused were put on trial. One of them, Ayaz Syed, later turned approver and became a prosecution witness. To establish the conspiracy, investigating agencies presented statements from 1,163 witnesses, making it one of the most evidence-intensive terror prosecutions in India. In February 2022, Special Court Judge A.R. Patel convicted 49 accused and acquitted 28 others, citing insufficient evidence against them. TUNNEL ESCAPE PLOT INSIDE SABARMATI JAIL The case also witnessed a dramatic development during the trial. In 2013, security agencies uncovered a conspiracy by several accused lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail to escape by digging an 18-foot-long tunnel. The plot was foiled after prison authorities detected the tunnel before the escape could be executed.