Archive · 21 Aug 2026
India Begins In Absentia Trial Over Mumbai Attacks
India has started a court process against six people accused of helping plan the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The accused are all in Pakistan and are not attending the Indian court.
Because they are absent, the case is called an in absentia proceeding.
A report may formally describe them as absconding.
The attacks began on November 26, 2008, when 10 armed attackers arrived by sea.
They attacked several places in Mumbai over four days.
The violence killed 166 people and injured about 300 others.
If the accused are found guilty, India could sentence them, but enforcing the sentences would require bringing them under Indian control.
Indian authorities have begun proceedings against six Pakistani nationals accused in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
The accused include Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Mir.
All six accused are in Pakistan and have not appeared before an Indian court.
A proclamation report is expected to establish that the accused are absconding and permit proceedings in their absence.
The attacks killed 166 people and injured about 300; punishment would depend on the accused coming under Indian jurisdiction.
- Who
- Mumbai Police are pursuing proceedings against six Pakistani nationals, including Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and Sajid Mir.
- What
- India has begun in absentia proceedings over the alleged planning and facilitation of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
- When
- The proceedings began on Monday; the attacks started on November 26, 2008, and lasted four days.
- Where
- The case is being pursued in India, while all six accused are currently in Pakistan; the attacks occurred in Mumbai.
- Why
- The proceedings aim to advance India’s judicial case against alleged overseas conspirators who have not appeared in court.
- Accused
- Six Pakistani nationals, including Hafiz Saeed, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Sajid Mir, Abu Al-Qama, Asim alias Abu Qahafa and Major Abdul Rehman Pasha.
- Attack date
- November 26, 2008
- Casualties
- 166 people killed and about 300 injured.
- Proceeding
- An in absentia case allowing judicial proceedings despite the accused being absent.
- Expected filing
- Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam is expected to submit a proclamation report concerning the accused’s absconding status.
- Enforcement
- Any sentence would depend on the accused being brought within Indian jurisdiction.
- Related case
- Hafiz Saeed has also been named by India’s National Investigation Agency as an alleged mastermind in the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.