2008 Malegaon Blast Case: All Seven Accused Acquitted by NIA Court, Verdict Reignites Political, Legal and Social Debate
In a landmark verdict that has reignited long-standing political and communal debates, a special NIA court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, citing a lack of concrete, cogent, and reliable evidence.
The ruling effectively brings to a close a 17-year-long legal and emotional journey marred by allegations of torture, political vendetta, wrongful imprisonment, and the controversial narrative of “saffron terror”.
The verdict was delivered by Judge A.K. Lahoti, who observed that the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, thereby leading to the complete acquittal of all the accused.
Those acquitted include:
- Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, currently a BJP Member of Parliament
- Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, an Indian Army officer
- Major Ramesh Upadhyay (Retd)
- Ajay Rahirkar
- Sameer Kulkarni
- Sudhakar Chaturvedi
- Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi
The 2008 Tragedy
The Malegaon blast occurred on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in Maharashtra, located about 100 km northeast of Nashik.
An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) was planted on an LML Freedom motorcycle, which exploded in Bhikku Chowk during the holy month of Ramzan, in an area densely populated by Muslims. The attack killed six people and injured over 100.
The case was initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The ATS had arrested several right-wing individuals, including Sadhvi Pragya and Col. Purohit, framing the case as an example of ‘saffron terrorism’, a term which has since become a source of major political contention.
Court Orders Compensation
Although all accused were acquitted, the court acknowledged the suffering of victims and their families, directing the government to pay ₹2 lakh to the families of those who died, and ₹50,000 to each of the injured.
However, for many of the survivors and kin of the deceased, the decision has brought closure without justice, leaving them emotionally torn between disappointment and resignation.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Reacts
Addressing the court, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, visibly emotional, recounted the physical and mental trauma she claimed to have endured.
“I was detained illegally for 13 days, beaten, tortured. I was living a sanyasi’s life and was labelled a terrorist. My life was ruined by the accusations,” she said. Later, she proclaimed: “Ye bhagwa ki vijay hai. Hindutva ki vijay hai.” (This is the victory of saffron; the victory of Hindutva).
Political Reactions: Across the Spectrum
The verdict sparked intense political commentary across party lines.
- Maharashtra Congress President Harshavardhan Sapkal said the verdict points to institutional failure. “The government must punish the guilty. Congress does not view terrorism through the lens of religion,” he asserted.
- Senior Congress leader and former Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan criticized the NIA, stating, “I won’t say they’re innocent. They’re acquitted due to a failure in evidence. Who’s responsible for that? Will Devendra Fadnavis now take action against the Maharashtra ATS officers who originally handled the case?”
- AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi questioned the central government’s stance, asking, “Will the Modi government challenge this verdict in the Supreme Court, or will they continue their hypocrisy on terrorism?”
- AIMIM MLA Imtiaz Jaleel demanded accountability: “Who fabricated the evidence? Action must be taken against the officers responsible.”
- Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis responded by declaring: “Terrorism was never saffron, is not, and never will be.”
- BJP leader and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule framed the verdict as a vindication of Hindutva and a condemnation of what he termed as Congress’s conspiracy. “This verdict exposes a long-running political plot to defame Hindus and Hinduism globally. Congress used the term ‘Hindu terrorism’ to malign a peaceful, tolerant faith. They owe an apology to the entire Hindu community.”
Legal Perspective
Advocate Prakash Salsingikar, who represented one of the accused, briefed the media after the court’s ruling, stating: “The court acknowledged that the incident was tragic and unjust, but the prosecution failed to establish criminal liability. The court has also sought compensation for victims—but ultimately, justice cannot be partial; it must be thorough.”
A Case That Left Scars
For the victims’ families, the verdict is a bitter pill. While some had moved on from the trauma of the 2008 blast, others had clung to hope for closure through justice.
With the acquittal of all accused, the case has reignited not only political debates but also a larger question about the efficacy of India’s investigative and judicial machinery, and the dangers of allowing ideological battles to shape criminal investigations.
The Malegaon blast verdict marks the end of a long legal saga, but it opens up renewed soul-searching about accountability, truth, and politicization of terror cases in India.
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