Mumbai, July 31 –
In a major development that brings closure to a nearly 17-year-old case, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai has acquitted all 11 accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Among those cleared are former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, a serving Army officer at the time of the incident.
Verdict Ends One of India’s Longest-Running Terror Cases
The blast, which occurred on *September 29, 2008, in the **Muslim-majority town of Malegaon, Maharashtra, had claimed the lives of *six people and injured *95 others. The explosive device was suspected to have been planted on a motorcycle near Bhikku Chowk during the holy month of **Ramzan. The attack coincided with *Navratri, a Hindu festival, prompting fears of communal tension.
Investigators initially traced the motorcycle to *Pragya Singh Thakur, leading to her arrest in October 2008. The **Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which first handled the probe, accused her and others of conspiring to execute the attack under a radical group named *Abhinav Bharat.
What Did the Court Say?
After examining years of evidence, the NIA court found *critical gaps in the prosecution’s case. It ruled that investigators had failed to prove that the blast was carried out using the recovered motorcycle. The court also observed that *some of the medical certificates had been manipulated, casting doubt on the number of injured victims.
In a damning observation, the court said that the prosecution failed to establish a clear link between the accused and the explosion.
The Malegaon Blast: What Happened in 2008?
The explosion rocked Malegaon just days before Navratri and during Ramzan, hinting at a calculated attempt to stir communal unrest.
Initially, local police investigated the case, but it was soon transferred to the ATS. They alleged that the *motorcycle used in the blast had a fake registration number, and both its engine and chassis numbers had been deliberately erased. A forensic lab later restored those numbers, which pointed to *Thakur as the original owner.
Following her arrest, the ATS nabbed several others, including *Lt Col Prasad Purohit, who was said to be linked with the formation of *Abhinav Bharat, an alleged radical Hindutva outfit.
Legal Journey and Charges
Originally, the accused were booked under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) and *UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act). However, the NIA, which took over the case in 2011, *dropped the MCOCA charges in 2016, saying that the way it had been invoked was “questionable.”
The NIA also found major inconsistencies in the ATS investigation and stated that evidence only existed against 7 of the 11 accused.
End of a Controversial Chapter
With this verdict, the case that once sparked political debates, religious controversies, and questions on investigative integrity comes to a formal end. The court’s decision might lead to further scrutiny on how India’s anti-terror laws are applied and investigated.