Mumbai: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on Wednesday acquitted all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and former army officer Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, citing lack of evidence and procedural lapses.
The verdict comes nearly 17 years after the blast that killed six people and injured over 100 near Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, Maharashtra, during the holy month of Ramadan. The court held that the prosecution had failed to establish the charges against the accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Special Judge A K Lahoti ruled that the evidence presented was not sufficient to link any of the accused to the conspiracy or execution of the September 29, 2008 blast. The judge specifically observed that there was no conclusive proof to confirm that the motorcycle used in the explosion belonged to Pragya Thakur, despite being registered in her name.
“The prosecution has not been able to establish the charges framed against the accused,” the court said in its detailed order, effectively dismissing the case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and Indian Penal Code sections including murder and criminal conspiracy.
Along with Thakur and Purohit, the other accused who were acquitted are Major (Retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, and Sudhakar Dwivedi.
Lt Col Purohit, reacting to the verdict, said he always maintained his innocence and expressed gratitude to the court for what he described as a “fair trial.” “My faith in the judiciary stands vindicated,” he told reporters outside the court.
“I said this from the very beginning that those who are called for investigation there should be a basis behind that. I was called by them for investigation and was arrested and tortured. This ruined my whole life. I was living a sage’s life, but I was made and accused, and no one was willingly standing beside us. I am alive because I am a Sanyasi. They defamed Bhagwa through a conspiracy. Today, Bhagwa has won, and Hindutva has won, and God will punish those who are guilty. However, those who defamed India and Bhagwa have not been proved wrong by you,” Thakur told ANI.
The Malegaon blast case had generated significant political and social debate over the years, particularly as it became one of the first major cases in India linked to alleged “Hindu terror.” The case initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) was later handed over to the NIA in 2011.
During the trial, the NIA argued that the accused were part of a radical right-wing group, Abhinav Bharat, that orchestrated the attack to target a Muslim-dominated locality. However, the court noted that the prosecution’s witnesses and evidence failed to support these claims.
The NIA has yet to indicate whether it will challenge the acquittal in a higher court.
