2008 Delhi Serial Bomb Blasts: High Court Denies Bail To 'Indian Mujahideen' Operative Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday denied bail to an alleged Indian Mujahideen operative in relation to the 2008 serial bomb blasts case. [2026 LiveLaw (Del) 629]

A division bench comprising Justice Prathiba M Singh and Justice Madhu Jain dismissed the appeal filed by Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy, challenging a trial court order denying bail to him.

Peerbhoy was denied bail by the trial court on July 19 last year.

Dismissing his bail appeal, the Court noted that Peerbhoy is head of the media cell of Indian Mujahideen.

The Court said that as per the prosecution, he was involved in transmission of an email which said “message of death” claiming success of bomb attacks exactly 5 minutes from the said mail.

It added that such level of coordination, planning and logistics was possible only through deployment of skilled technology and Peerbhoy was at the centre of the incident.

"The Appellant is an educated computer professional with specialised knowledge of cyber security and hacking techniques, and was fully aware of the impact of his conduct. He is alleged to have headed the media cell of the 'Indian Mujahideen' and, as is evident from the material brought on record, was prima facie centrally involved in the transmission of the email," then Court said.

It added that the material on record indicated that considerable efforts were undertaken to ensure that the origin of the transmission of the email in question remained untraceable. 

The Bench observed that the allegations against Peerbhoy were not confined to an isolated criminal act, however, to his prima facie conduct which formed part of a larger terrorist conspiracy, having serious implications for the security, integrity and sovereignty of the nation.

The Court also concluded that the offence is grave in nature as 26 people lost their lives and more than 100 individuals were injured.

"There is no doubt that the Appellant has remained in custody for a considerable period as an undertrial prisoner. However, it is pertinent to note that the trial is presently at its fag end and has reached the concluding stage. Releasing the Appellant at this juncture, when the cross-examination of the remaining two witnesses is yet to be completed, could have an adverse impact on the ongoing trial proceedings," the Court said.

The Delhi Police alleged that Peerbhoy, in conspiracy with other accused persons, sent e- mails to electronic and print media in respect of serial bomb blasts which occurred in Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi.

Upon his arrest by the Mumbai Police in September 2008, the prosecution claimed to have recovered electronic devices including a laptop, Wi-Fi hotspot finder, radio frequency signal detector, hard disk, hidden camera detector and internet connector.

He was chargesheeted under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code (including conspiracy, murder and waging war-related offences), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act, and Information Technology Act.

Title: Mansoor Ashgar Peerbhoy v. State

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Del) 629

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