In a bold move, a special NIA court in Mumbai has ordered a probe against Maharashtra ATS officer Shekhar Bagde in connection with the Malegaon 2008 blast case. The court's decision came after allegations surfaced in the NIA chargesheet that Bagde had deliberately planted traces of RDX in a suspect's home.
Back in 2011, the NIA took over the investigation from the ATS. After its investigation, the NIA filed a chargesheet exonerating former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur of involvement. However, it was alleged that ATS officer Shekhar Bagde forcibly entered the home of suspect Sudhakar Chaturvedi and planted traces of RDX. Chaturvedi, a military informant, resided with now-retired Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit in Nashik's Deolali Cantt area. Purohit was arrested for conspiring, supplying RDX, and for making bombs.
Special Judge AK Lahoti acknowledged that the NIA referenced testimony from an army major and a subedar. They testified that Bagde quietly entered Chaturvedi's premises when he was not home and hid RDX traces. The major and subedar revealed to the Court of Inquiry that Bagde instructed them not to report this incident. Yet, two days later, an ATS raid uncovered trace substances similar to RDX used in the Malegaon blast.
2008
: Investigation by ATS begins after the Malegaon blasts, targeting several suspects including military personnel.
2011
: NIA takes over the investigation from ATS, charging multiple individuals and bringing in new evidence.
2021
: Major developments unfold as the court examines potential evidence tampering by ATS officials.
This act by Bagde raises suspicions, said the court. Additionally, the ATS did not provide any explanation for such actions. Hence, the court felt the entire matter indicates the possibility of 'fact planting' or deliberate evidence fabrication.
Questions Raised on Fake Medical Certificates
The court ordered the investigation of another serious issue besides Bagde's suspicious actions. It was discovered that several medical certificates, intended to reflect the victims' injuries, were issued by unrecognized doctors at ATS officials' behest. These certificates were rejected by the court. Furthermore, it surfaced that some medical certificates were intentionally tampered with, prompting the court to order an inquiry into these forged medical documents as well.
No Concrete Evidence Found
It is noteworthy that the verdict on the Malegaon blast spans over 1,000 pages. The ruling indicates that both Maharashtra's prime investigative agency ATS and the central agency NIA failed to secure solid evidence to substantiate their case against the accused.
Read more about the Malegaon 2008 Blast Case: Court points out flaws in the evidence and unfulfilled allegations
What Did the Court Say?
The judge emphasized the importance of acknowledging the pain, frustration, and trauma suffered by society and the victims' families due to the heinous crime. However, the law does not permit the court to convict an individual based merely on moral conviction or suspicion. As the judge asserted, terrorism holds no religion as no faith endorses violence. The court operates based on evidence, not public sentiment.
