The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting all 12 accused in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blasts case.

A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said the high court judgment shall not be treated as a precedent, and issued notice to all the accused in the case.

The court, however, did not stay the release of the accused from prison.

The developments came as the top court was hearing a petition by the Maharashtra government challenging the High Court verdict. 

More than 180 people were killed in the seven bomb blasts that ripped through separate Mumbai local trains within a span of 11 minutes on July 11, 2006.

On Monday, the High Court had acquitted all the 12 accused, saying the prosecution had utterly failed to prove the case and it was "hard to believe the accused committed the crime".

Appearing for the Maharashtra government in the top court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought a stay on the verdict but did not press for a stay on the release of the acquitted persons. 

"I am seeking stay, not to bring them back to jail. Certain findings of laws will affect the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act) trial. May consider saying they may not be required in jail," he said.

Source: Ndtv