Following the Supreme Court's decision to stay the Bombay High Court's verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case, Maharashtra Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he was hopeful that justice will be served. Referring to the gravity of the incident and the ongoing legal battle, Bawankule said, "After the High Court's order, the way the government presented its case in the Supreme Court has provided us with some relief. I am confident that based on the investigation conducted by the Maharashtra Police and the concerned department, when our case is presented by our lawyers in the Supreme Court, we will definitely get justice. The incident of that day in Maharashtra, when the bomb blasts occurred, is still unforgettable for the people of Maharashtra and Mumbaikars. When that day is recalled, every person is stunned for a moment. I am confident that we will get significant relief in this case."

The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh issued notices to all 12 acquitted individuals and asked them to respond to the state government’s appeal against their acquittal. The court clarified, however, that the stay will not impact the release of those already out of prison.

On July 22, the Bombay High Court had acquitted all the accused, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove its case and that the evidence was not sufficient to establish guilt. This overturned the 2015 verdict of the special MCOCA court, which had convicted 12 individuals—five of whom were sentenced to death and seven to life imprisonment. One of the death row convicts died during the appeal process in 2021.