Mumbai
In a startling revelation following the recent acquittal of all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, retired Maharashtra ATS officer Mehiboob Mujawar has claimed that he was allegedly pressured by superiors to arrest Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat—a move he says was intended to manufacture a false narrative of “saffron terror”.
The explosive allegation comes just a day after a special NIA court in Mumbai acquitted all seven individuals who had been accused in the Malegaon blast that occurred on September 29, 2008, in the Muslim-majority town of Malegaon in Nashik district.
The blast, which took place during the holy month of Ramadan, claimed six lives and injured over 100 people.
Mujawar’s Shocking Testimony:
Speaking to media outlets and news agency PTI, Mujawar said the court’s verdict exposed the “fabricated investigation” conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had initially probed the case before it was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
“The court’s verdict proves that the entire investigation was hollow and based on false premises,” said Mujawar. “The aim was to frame a narrative around saffron terrorism by implicating high-profile figures, including RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat.”
According to Mujawar, he received confidential instructions during the early stages of the ATS investigation to arrest Bhagwat and others, including Ramchandra Kalsangra, Sandeep Dange, and Dilip Patidar—all of whom were either linked to right-wing groups or named in various reports.
“I was asked to go and catch Mohan Bhagwat, a towering personality. But the order was horrific, and I knew the truth,” said Mujawar. “Such directives were not just professionally untenable but morally unacceptable.”
He further claimed that his refusal to carry out the instructions resulted in retaliation. “Because I did not obey the order, a false case was slapped against me, and it ultimately destroyed my four-decade-long career in law enforcement,” he alleged.
“Saffron Terror” and the Politics of the Term:
The term “saffron terror” had gained traction in political and media discourse in the late 2000s and early 2010s, often used to refer to alleged involvement of individuals linked to Hindu nationalist groups in terror-related activities.
Critics of the term, including several political parties and social groups, have long argued that the label was politically motivated, designed to malign a particular ideology or community.
Mujawar’s claims appear to reinforce that view, suggesting a possible manipulation of investigative agencies for political ends. “There was no saffron terrorism. It was all fabricated. The truth is now emerging after 17 years,” he said.
The Malegaon Blast Case: A Legal Saga
The case originally centered around the explosion of a bomb planted on a motorcycle, which was later allegedly traced back to individuals associated with Hindu nationalist groups. Over the years, the investigation saw numerous twists and turns:
- Initial arrests were made by Maharashtra ATS, with several accused charged under MCOCA and UAPA.
- The case was transferred to the NIA in 2011, which later dropped charges against several accused, citing a lack of evidence.
- The special NIA court acquitted all seven remaining accused on August 1, 2025, citing a complete lack of prosecutable evidence and inconsistencies in the investigation.
The verdict marked a major blow to the prosecution’s case and raised serious questions about the credibility of earlier investigative efforts.
Political Implications and Public Reaction:
The acquittal and Mujawar’s subsequent claims are likely to spark intense political debate, especially in an environment where the use and misuse of state agencies remain a deeply contentious issue.
While neither the ATS nor the state government has officially responded to Mujawar’s statements, calls for an independent probe into the initial handling of the Malegaon investigation have already begun to surface from civil society and some political quarters.
Mujawar insists he possesses documentary proof of the instructions he received and is reportedly considering legal steps to clear his name and expose the truth behind the pressures he faced while serving on the case.
As the dust settles on the Malegaon case verdict, Mujawar’s revelations may open new chapters in the debate on politicization of investigations, accountability in counter-terror probes, and the long-standing intersection of politics, religion, and justice in India.
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