Mumbai: Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, who was an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, was promoted to the rank of Colonel by the Army on Wednesday.
The promotion came for the 53-year-old officer after 17 years, nine of which he spent in jail. His promotion came after his acquittal recently.
According to an official, a Discipline and Vigilance (DV) ban was imposed after his arrest in the matter. The Army formally lifted the ban that had stalled his professional progression for over a decade and a half. Purohit is currently attached to the Army’s Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa (MG&G) Area.
The DV ban, imposed in 2008, had denied Purohit rightful promotions, postings, and honours despite his eligibility. His name was kept out of consideration by the Army’s Selection Board for years. Senior officials confirmed that the Southern Command recently cleared his file, a move subsequently endorsed by Army Headquarters. According to Army regulations, an officer acquitted of charges cannot remain under a DV ban, making Purohit’s promotion both a rightful entitlement and a symbolic gesture of justice.
On Wednesday, Colonel Purohit was promoted in the presence of senior officials and colleagues during a formal ceremony. The event included the presentation of his promotion badge and formal felicitations, honouring his service and professional dedication.
Purohit was among seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh, who were cleared of all charges in the high-profile “saffron terror” investigation on July 31, 2025. Accused of being one of the masterminds behind the blasts, he spent nearly nine years in jail before securing bail in 2017. Following a protracted trial, the court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to convict him.
He has now been served notice along with the other accused by the Bombay High Court on the basis of an appeal moved by the family of one of the victims of the blast.
Despite his promotion, Colonel Purohit’s career prospects remain constrained by time. With just over a year of service remaining, he is unlikely to be assigned a conventional Colonel-level field or staff posting. Instead, Army authorities are reportedly considering a special unit command assignment to formally acknowledge his promotion while accommodating his limited tenure.
Col Purohit may also seek redress for the professional and financial losses caused by the DV ban. He can pursue backdated promotion, restoration of seniority, arrears of pay and allowances, and even compensation for reputational damage through the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) or a High Court.
