Mira Road Man Acquitted After 18 Years Earns Seven Degrees In Prison

Ehtesham Siddiqui, a 44-year-old former resident of Mira Road who was arrested in 2006 and spent 18 years in prison before his acquittal, rebuilt his life by earning seven academic degrees and three diplomas while incarcerated. Siddiqui, who spent ten of those years on death row before the Bombay High Court acquitted him and 11 others in 2025, used higher education as a means of rehabilitation and survival.

During his nearly two-decade-long imprisonment, Siddiqui transitioned from a college dropout to a highly qualified academic. After his initial arrest in connection with the 2006 Mumbai 7/11 train blasts, he sought permission from the court to resume his studies. He began by learning Marathi in prison, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts in Tourism Studies in the Marathi medium from the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) in 2016.

Siddiqui's academic pursuit culminated in an MBA in Human Resource Management, which he enrolled in during 2018. Despite facing administrative hurdles and difficulties in gathering study materials, he completed the course with 71 per cent marks. He became the only inmate in Maharashtra's prisons to successfully complete the MBA programme.

In addition to his MBA and Bachelor of Arts, Siddiqui completed multiple certificate and diploma courses through IGNOU, covering subjects such as nutrition, languages, disaster management, marketing, and finance. He also studied law while preparing his own defence through Right to Information (RTI) Act applications. His legal research contributed to his case, which ultimately led to the Bombay High Court acquitting all 12 convicted men because the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Following his release in 2025, Siddiqui received his Bachelor of Laws degree. He has since relocated to a village near Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, where he lives with his parents and wife. He is currently in the process of enrolling in the Bar at Allahabad to practice law and has cleared exams to qualify as an assistant professor in business management.

Siddiqui is also preparing to publish his first book, titled "Education in Prison: My Struggle," which details his journey of pursuing higher education behind bars. Despite his academic success and release, Siddiqui noted that the transition has had its challenges, including adapting to life outside after years of solitary confinement.