Mumbai, July 31 — In a significant verdict, a special NIA court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. The court said the prosecution failed to prove the charges and found no evidence linking the accused to the conspiracy or execution of the blast that killed six people and injured several others.
Delivering the verdict after 17 years, Special Judge A.K. Lahoti observed that key aspects of the case — such as the ownership of the motorcycle used in the blast and the alleged bomb-making by the accused — could not be proved.
Key Findings of the Court
- No Link Between Pragya’s Bike and the Blast: The court stated that it was not proven that the motorcycle used in the blast belonged to Sadhvi Pragya. The chassis number of the bike was never recovered and no forensic fingerprints were collected from the crime scene.
- No Evidence of Bomb-Making by Purohit: The prosecution failed to establish that Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit manufactured the bomb used in the explosion.
- No Proven Conspiracy: The court concluded that there was no evidence to prove any conspiracy involving the accused persons.
- Inconsistencies in Victim Data: The court noted discrepancies in the injury records. While the prosecution claimed 101 people were injured, the court held that only 95 victims could be verified, citing manipulation in medical certificates.
Background of the Case
The Malegaon blasts took place on September 29, 2008, in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Maharashtra. The explosion claimed six lives and left dozens injured. Initial investigations suggested the involvement of individuals linked to Hindu right-wing groups.
Seven people were eventually put on trial: Pragya Singh Thakur (now a BJP MP from Bhopal), Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Sameer Kulkarni, and Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi.
The investigation passed through several hands over the years. Initially handled by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011. A formal chargesheet was filed by the NIA in 2016.
The case also saw the replacement of four different judges and investigations by three separate agencies. The verdict, initially expected in May 2025, was reserved until July 31.
Verdict
All seven accused were acquitted of all charges related to murder, conspiracy, and terrorism under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The court concluded that the prosecution failed to establish a chain of evidence that would connect the accused to the bombing.
