The West Bengal government has approached the Supreme Court against a Delhi High Court order directing the release of Rashid Khan
June 18, 2026: The West Bengal government on Thursday moved the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s order directing the release of Rashid Khan, a life convict in the 1993 Bowbazar blast case that killed 69 people in Kolkata. Seeking urgent intervention, the state argued that the offence was a grave act of terrorism and contended that the High Court erred in granting remission despite repeated rejection of Khan’s plea by the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB).
During the hearing, the state’s counsel informed the court that Khan had spent nearly 30 years in prison, including remission earned during incarceration. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed to consider listing the matter after the state stressed the seriousness of the case. The challenge comes weeks after the Delhi High Court ordered the release of the 72-year-old convict, stating that the punishment already undergone had sufficiently met the objectives of deterrence and rehabilitation.
Khan was convicted in 2001 under the Indian Penal Code, the Explosive Substances Act and the now-repealed TADA for his role in the deadly Bowbazar blast. While the High Court observed that his conduct in prison and during parole indicated successful reformation, the West Bengal government maintains that the nature of the crime and concerns related to public safety justify continued denial of remission. The Supreme Court is now expected to examine the legality of the release order.