2007 Ajmer Blast Case : Supreme Court Asks Rajasthan HC To Decide Victim's Appeal Against Acquittals On Merits Regardless Of Delay

The Supreme Court recently requested the Rajasthan High Court to decide the appeals filed by the victim in the 2007 Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast case, challenging the acquittals of some accused, on merits, regardless of the delay in the filing of the appeals.

A bench comprising Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma passed the interim direction while considering a petition filed by Syed Sarwar Chishty, a Khadim of the Ajmer Sharif Dargah, who is the complainant in the case.  

The appeal before the High Court had challenged the acquittal of seven accused persons in connection with the blast that took place on October 11, 2007, shortly after iftar prayers during the month of Ramadan at the Ajmer Sharif Dargah. The explosion had resulted in the death of three persons and injuries to several others.

In 2017, a special court of the National Investigation Agency convicted Bhavesh Patel and Devendra Gupta and sentenced them to life imprisonment. However, the complainant's appeal against the acquittal of the other accused - namely, Lokesh Sharma, Chandrashekhar Leve, Mukesh Vasani, Harshad @ Munna, Naba Kumar Sarkar @ Swami Aseemanand, Mafat @ Mehul, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar - and against the quantum of punishment awarded to the two convicts was dismissed by the Rajasthan High Court in 2022. The High Court held that the delay of more than 90 days in filing the appeal could not be condoned in view of Section 21(5) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, even though the matter had remained pending for about five years.

Challenging this approach, Syed Sarwar Chishty approached the Supreme Court contending that a rigid and absolute bar on condonation of delay in appeals under the NIA Act violates Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. It was argued that such an interpretation undermines the fundamental right to appeal, access to justice, and the rights of victims in serious terror related prosecutions.

On November 3, 2025, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the State of Rajasthan on the petitioner's plea. In its latest interim order passed on December 18, the Court has now specifically requested the High Court to proceed with the criminal appeal afresh and decide it on merits, despite the delay and the previous order of dismissal.

"We request the High Court(s) to dispose of the appeal(s) on merits, notwithstanding the delay in filing these appeal(s) and the earlier orders(s) of dismissal, on appropriate applications being filed by the parties," the order stated.

The Supreme Court has also listed the matter for further consideration on March 24, 2026.

Senior Advocate Abhay Mahadeo Thipsay, Advocate Sowjhanya Shankaran, Advocate Siddharth Satija, and Advocate M Huzaifa represented the petitioner. The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (ACPCR) provided legal assistance to the petitioner. 

Case Details: SYED SARWAR CHISHTY v STATE OF RAJASTHAN| Diary No. 51829-2025