Mumbai — Nearly ten years after his acquittal in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, Dr. Abdul Wahid Din Mohammed Shaikh, a schoolteacher and the only accused to be released by the special court in 2015, has now formally sought ₹9 crore as compensation for his wrongful incarceration, reported the New Indian Express.
In his appeal to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC), Shaikh described the years he spent in prison as a period of “irreparable loss” to his liberty, dignity, and life.
Shaikh was arrested following the 7/11 serial train blasts that killed over 180 people and injured hundreds during Mumbai’s evening rush hour. He spent nine years in Arthur Road Jail before being acquitted in 2015 when the special court ruled there was no evidence against him. Recently, on July 21, 2025, the Bombay High Court acquitted all 12 others convicted in the case, further highlighting the collapse of the prosecution’s claims.
In his submission, Shaikh detailed the physical and psychological torture he faced in police custody, the loss of crucial years of his youth (ages 28–37), and the permanent health complications he now lives with, including glaucoma and chronic pain. He also cited the emotional devastation suffered by his family, including the death of his father and his mother’s declining mental health, alongside the educational setbacks faced by his children.
The teacher further revealed that he has accumulated debts of nearly ₹30 lakh, primarily due to medical and rehabilitation expenses since his release.
“This is not just about me. It is about the principle that justice should not end with acquittal but must also ensure restitution,” Shaikh said. “I lost almost a decade of my life. Without institutional support, how can I rebuild?”
The appeal seeks recognition of wrongful imprisonment as a violation of fundamental rights and demands accountability from state authorities.
