NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the death sentence of Ahmed Bawa Abbu Abubakar Barelvi, one of the 38 convicts sentenced to death in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Augustine George Masih passed the order while hearing Barelvi’s challenge to the Gujarat High Court judgment upholding his conviction and death sentence.
Appearing for Barelvi, his counsel submitted, "I have been convicted totally on the basis of conspiracy."
Taking note of the submission, Justice Nath said, "Alright, execution of the sentence will be stayed."
The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Gujarat government, seeking its response to Barelvi’s plea. His counsel sought a translated copy of the Gujarat High Court judgment, pointing out that the trial court records were in Gujarati.
Barelvi is among the 38 convicts sentenced to death by a special court in Gujarat in February 2022. The court convicted 49 accused, sentencing 38 to death and 11 to life imprisonment, while acquitting 28 others.
The Gujarat High Court subsequently heard appeals against the convictions and the state’s death sentence confirmation proceedings. In July 2026, it upheld the convictions and death sentences of the 38 convicts, following which Barelvi challenged the judgment before the Supreme Court.
The Ahmedabad serial blasts took place on July 26, 2008, when a series of explosions struck different parts of the city, killing 56 people and injuring more than 200 others.
The Supreme Court will hear Barelvi’s plea in detail later.
