Seven blasts had ripped through first class compartments on Mumbai's local trains in 11 minutes on the evening of July 11, 2006.
The prosecution has sought the death penalty for eight of 12 men convicted for the Mumbai train blasts in July 2006 that killed 189 people and left over 800 injured. For the other four, they have sought a life term.
12 of 13 men accused of planting bombs on Mumbai's local trains were found guilty of terrorist activities and mass murder earlier this month. Arguments on what punishment they should be given are now complete and the court is expected to sentence them next week, on September 30.
Seeking the death sentence for eight convicts, the prosecution today said in court that they were "merchants of death." The prosecution argued that the background of the convicts and their education cannot be a reason for the court to be lenient. Special Public Prosecutor argued "Yakub Memon was a chartered accountant with impeccable antecedents but even he was not shown mercy. Why should this case be any different?" Yakub Memon was hanged on July 30, for his role in 1993 serial blasts case.
The prosecution also told the court, "Solitary confinement cannot be considered a mitigating circumstance. Ajmal Kasab was kept in solitary confinement and hanged."
Seven blasts had ripped through first class compartments on Mumbai's local trains in 11 minutes on the evening of July 11, 2006. The blasts occurred between 6:24 and 6:35 pm, when lakhs of office-goers use Mumbai's local trains to get back home from work.
The RDX bombs were kept in pressure cookers and were placed in trains on the Western line.
The 13 men were arrested on various charges including transporting and planting the bombs and harbouring terrorists at their homes.
The police say 15 people accused in what came to be called the 7/11 bombings are still absconding, among them the masterminds of the terror plot. In their chargesheet, the police have named Pakistani nationals and members of the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba.
The prosecution examined 192 witnesses, including police officers and bureaucrats. Defence lawyers examined 51 witnesses and one person was called in as a court witness.
The Supreme Court had stayed trial in the case in 2008 as it heard a petition by the accused, who had challenged the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act or MCOCA under which they were charged.
Trial resumed two years later, after a go-ahead from the Supreme Court. The Special MCOCA court finished trial in August last year.