In a significant development, a special NIA court has reserved its verdict for the Malegaon blast case, nearly 17 years after the horrific explosion in Maharashtra’s communally sensitive town of Malegaon. The blast occurred on September 29, 2008, when explosives tied to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque, resulting in the tragic loss of six lives and leaving over 100 people injured.
On Saturday, the prosecution concluded its arguments with final written submissions alongside a few poignant quotes. Following their submissions, Special Judge A K Lahoti adjourned the case, reserving the decision until May 8. During the trial, the prosecution examined a total of 323 witnesses, out of which 34 retracted their statements.
The charge against Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, BJP leader Pragya Thakur, Major Ramesh Upadhyay (Retd.), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni stand under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the case was transferred to the NIA in 2011.
After taking charge, the NIA, in 2016, absolved Thakur and three other accused - Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takalki, and Shivnarayan Kalsangra - by filing a charge sheet that stated a lack of evidence against them and recommended their release. However, the NIA court acquitted Sahu, Kalsangra, and Takalki, while deciding that Sadhvi should face trial.
On October 30, 2018, the special court framed charges against seven accused under stringent sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). They are being tried under UAPA sections 16 (commission of a terrorist act) and 18 (conspiracy to commit a terrorist act), and IPC sections 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (causing hurt voluntarily), and 153 (A) (promoting enmity between different religious groups). Recording of prosecution witness testimony concluded last year in September.
