A special court in Mumbai delivered a significant verdict today regarding the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case. All seven accused, including former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt. Colonel Prasad Purohit, Retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi, and Sameer Kulkarni, have been acquitted. The court stated, 'Terrorism has no religion, as no faith endorses violence.'
Stay updated with all the developments related to this verdict here:
- The Special NIA Court acquitted all accused in the Malegaon blast case, emphasizing that no religion supports violence. The court ordered compensation of Rs 2 lakh for families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.
- All seven accused were acquitted due to a lack of credible evidence, the court stated, indicating that 'no proof is reliable.'
Source: aajtak
- The court acknowledged the incident as a severe crime against society, but underscored that moral grounds alone are insufficient for conviction; robust evidence is paramount. It was noted that reliable and firm evidence against the accused was absent, warranting their acquittal. Police can file separate chargesheets against other wanted accused if they choose. All acquitted individuals will receive a copy of the court's order.
- The court clearly stated, 'The prosecution could not provide any concrete evidence deemed legally valid. Witness testimonies were found weak. A mere story or perception is inadequate; definite evidence is requisite for conviction. The court is unable to trust the evidence. There is significant doubt, yet the prosecution cannot proceed based on doubt alone.'
- The court remarked, 'The Supreme Court had previously dismissed the McOCA law, hence it was excluded from this case. The approval granted by the Home Department (ACS Home) to apply UAPA laws was granted without proper scrutiny. Therefore, UAPA provisions aren't applicable either. It was unproven that funds from the 'Abhinav Bharat' organization were utilized for any terrorist activity.'
- The court observed, 'Key witnesses did not support the prosecution. The prosecution failed to prove meetings where conspiracies were reportedly hatched.'
- The court said, 'The spot panchanama had discrepancies. Dump data was unavailable. The crime scene was not barricaded, preventing any conclusive outcome. The chassis number on the vehicle was erased and not restored, so no definitive proof exists whether it belonged to Sadhvi Pragya.'
- The court noted, 'Some medical certificates were issued by unlicensed practitioners, necessitating proof. No evidence is available proving Purohit brought RDX or assembled the bomb. It's unclear who parked the motorcycle with explosives, though the area was sealed for Ramadan. After the incident - who pelted stones, who caused damage, incidents of snatching guns from police - lack clear evidence.'
- Special Judge Lahoti delivered the verdict, mentioning, 'Some charges were dismissed by the court, while others were accepted. The argument from the defense that the ATS Kala Chowki office isn't a police station was rejected by the court. The court concluded the bomb was placed outside the motorcycle, not inside.'
- Judge commenced reading the verdict.
- The judge has arrived in the courtroom and will announce the verdict shortly. All accused are present in court.
- Reports indicate Sadhvi Pragya and other accused have arrived at the court before the verdict.
Major Events in the Malegaon Blast Case:
Explosion and Initial Investigation
On September 29, 2008, a bomb in a two-wheeler detonated at Bhiku Chowk, Malegaon, killing six and injuring 101 people. Those deceased were Farheen alias Shagufta Sheikh Liaqat, Sheikh Mushtaq Yusuf, Sheikh Rafiq Mustafa, Irfan Ziaullah Khan, Syed Azhar Syed Nisar, and Haroon Shah Mohammad Shah.
The initial FIR was filed by local police but later transferred to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The ATS claimed the organization known as 'Abhinav Bharat' had been functioning akin to an organized crime gang since 2003. In its chargesheet, the ATS named Pragya Singh Thakur, Colonel Purohit, Upadhyay, among others, making a total of 16 accused.
The breakthrough came from an LML Freedom motorcycle, which bore a fake number (MH-15-P-4572) and had its engine and chassis numbers tampered with. Forensic analysis revealed the genuine number to be GJ-05-BR-1920, registered under Pragya Singh Thakur's name.
On October 23, 2008, Pragya Thakur, Shivanarayan Kalasangra, and Shyam Bhavarlal Shau were arrested. As of November 2008, 11 arrests had taken place, and charges under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act) were added.
Source: aajtak
Read also: Maharashtra: Malegaon Blast Case Trial Ends After 17 Years, NIA Court Reserves Judgment Until May 8
The Conspiracy and Charges
The prosecution alleged Colonel Purohit transported RDX from Kashmir, concealing it at his home in Maharashtra. The bomb was reportedly assembled at Sudhakar Chaturvedi's residence in the Deolali cantonment area. ATS claimed the motorcycle bomb was planted by Pravin Takalki, Ramji Kalasangra, and Sandeep Dange, indicating a larger conspiracy at play.
Malegaon, a predominantly Muslim area, was reportedly selected to incite communal unrest just before Ramadan. The first chargesheet, filed in January 2009, included 11 accused and named three wanted persons. Electronic evidence, such as recordings from Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi's laptop, voice samples, etc., were cited.
After Takalki's February 2011 arrest, a supplementary chargesheet was filed. Investigations indicated the conspiracy began with meetings in Faridabad, Bhopal, and Nashik in January 2008, attempting to establish a 'Hindu Nation - Aryavart' with its constitution and flag.
Transfer to NIA and Legal Developments
In 2011, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case to expedite legal procedures. On May 13, 2016, NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet, removing MCOCA provisions, stating the ATS's use of the law was dubious.
NIA also accused ATS of fabricating false evidence and using coercive methods, re-interviewing witnesses previously provided contradictory statements to ATS. NIA alleged ATS intimidated and attempted to threaten witnesses.
On December 27, 2017, the trial court ruled MCOCA was inapplicable but refused to discharge Pragya Thakur and six other accused. They were ordered to face trials under UAPA, IPC, and the Explosive Substances Act. Three accused were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Read also: Malegaon Blast Case: Former BJP MP Pragya Thakur Relieved, Bailable Warrant Cancelled After Court Appearance
The Trial and Witnesses
The trial commenced in December 2018. An accused challenged the legitimacy of the blast, compelling many injured from Malegaon to testify in Mumbai. A total of 323 witnesses were examined by the prosecution, leveraging technical evidence like call data records and voice samples.
Before giving their testimony, 26 witnesses died; 39 retracted their statements. Meanwhile, 282 witnesses supported the prosecution. The prosecution also removed 41 witnesses from their initial list.
Several accused, particularly Pragya Thakur, alleged torture under ATS custody. After a prolonged hearing, on April 19, 2025, the special judge A.K. Lahoti reserved the verdict, which was announced today.
