German Bakery Blast: Bombay High Court commutes Himayat Baig's death sentence to life

Bombay High Court on Thursday set aside the death sentence of Himayat Baig, the lone convict in the 2010 Pune German Bakery blast case. According to PTI, the High Court has quashed Baig's death penalty and confirmed his life sentence for possession of explosives.

A division bench of Justices N H Patil and S B Shukre pronounced the verdict. It was hearing a petition of the Maharashtra government and an appeal filed by Baig challenging his conviction and his death sentence.

According to police, Baig, who was a member of terrorist outfit Indian Mujahideen, was arrested in September 2010 for his involvement in the blast that took place in German Bakery, a popular eatery in Pune's Koregaon Park area.

Baig was awarded the death penalty by a sessions court for "masterminding" the explosion on 13 February 2010 which killed 17 persons and injured 58 including some foreign nationals.