Rajasthan HC acquits all accused in deadly 2008 Jaipur blasts
Jaipur, Mar 29: The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday acquitted all four accused in the 2008 serial Jaipur blast case which claimed 71 lives and left over 180 injured.
The accused were given capital punishment by a trial court in 2019 which was challenged in the high court.
The high court also lambasted the investigating agency for doing a shoddy and shabby investigation in connecting the chain of evidence.
Jaipur was rocked by a series of blasts on May 13, 2008 when bombs went off one after another at Manak Chawk Khanda, Chandpole Gate, Badi Chaupad, Chhoti Chaupad, Tripolia Gate, Johri Bazar and Sanganeri Gate.
The explosions in the evening left 71 people dead and 185 injured.
One live bomb was recovered near Ramchandra Temple which was defused by a bomb disposal squad.
In December 2019, a special court gave the death sentence to four men --Mohammad Saif, Mohammad Salman, Saifur and Mohammad Sarvar Azmi -- and acquitted another accused, Shahbaz Hussain.
While the state government challenged the acquittal of Shahbaz Hussain in the high court, the four awarded capital punishment filed an appeal against the trial court order.
The division bench of justices Pankaj Bhandari and Sameer Jain pronounced the judgment on Wednesday acquitting all four. The court also affirmed the acquittal of the fifth man, Shahbaz Hussain, by the lower court in its order.
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Giving son Rahul to Rae Bareli people, he won't disappoint you: Sonia Gandhi
Raebareli (UP), May 17: Congress leader Sonia Gandhi said on Friday that she is giving her son to the people of Rae Bareli and "Rahul will not disappoint you".
She also thanked the people for giving her an opportunity to serve them as an MP for 20 years.
"My everything is all given by you. So, brothers and sisters, I am giving you my son. You consider me yours," she said.
Trying to strike an emotional chord with the voters, Sonia asked the people to consider Rahul Gandhi too as their own. Rahul will not disappoint you, said Sonia Gandhi, as Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi stood by her side on the stage at a joint election rally here.
"I taught the same lessons to Rahul and Priyanka which Indira Gandhi and the people of Rae Bareli had taught me. To respect all, protect the weak, fight against injustice for the rights of people. Don't be afraid, because your roots of struggle and traditions are very deep," she said.
Sonia Gandhi was first elected as an MP from Rae Bareli in 2004 and represented the seat till earlier this year when she vacated it on getting elected as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Rahul Gandhi is in fray from the Rae Bareli constituency this time.
Sonia Gandhi also thanked the people of Rae Bareli for electing her.
"You gave me a chance to serve you as MP for 20 years. This is the biggest asset of my life," she said.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, along with other senior leaders of the Congress and the SP, was also present on the stage at the rally.
