The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the execution of Ahmed Bawa alias Abbu Abubakar Barelvi, a death-row convict in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts case. A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Augustine George Masih passed the order while hearing his challenge against the Gujarat High Court judgment that had upheld his conviction and death sentence.
The Supreme Court has also issued notice to the Gujarat government and sought the trial court records. Barelvi’s lawyer argued that his conviction was primarily based on the allegation of conspiracy. The stay means that his execution will not take place while the Supreme Court considers his challenge.
The July 26, 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts killed 56 people and injured more than 200. In February 2022, a special court sentenced 38 of the convicted accused to death and 11 to life imprisonment. In July 2026, the Gujarat High Court upheld those sentences.
