Special Correspondent
Malegaon : In a major verdict that has reignited political and social debates, the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish credible evidence to prove their involvement in the deadly blast that claimed six lives and injured over a hundred people.
Delivering the verdict, Special Judge A.K. Lahoti observed that although the prosecution succeeded in establishing that a bomb blast took place in Malegaon on the night of September 29, 2008, it failed to prove that the bomb was planted on the motorcycle allegedly linked to Sadhvi Pragya. The judge also noted that the ownership of the vehicle could not be conclusively linked to her, and that key aspects such as the bomb-making and conspiracy could not be established beyond doubt.
The court pointed to several inconsistencies in the evidence, including discrepancies in the medical reports of some of the victims where ages were incorrectly recorded as 101 instead of 95 — and allegations of tampering with documents. These inconsistencies, the judge stated, weakened the prosecution’s case and cast serious doubt on the investigation.
The seven acquitted individuals include Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Samir Kulkarni, and Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi. All were facing charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), including conspiracy, murder, and terrorism.
The blast had occurred at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon around 9:35 p.m., during the festive period of Ramzan and Navratri. The explosion triggered panic, with clouds of smoke, screams, and chaos at the site. The area, largely inhabited by members of the Muslim community, had seen six people die on the spot and over a hundred injured.
Speaking after the verdict, Sadhvi Pragya addressed the court with emotion and said, “From the very beginning, I maintained that I was innocent. I was living a life of a sanyasi. I was wrongfully arrested, tortured, and humiliated. No one stood by us. They tried to defame the saffron the symbol of our culture and identity. But today, the saffron has won, Hindutva has won. Those who defamed us, let God be their judge.”
She alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to frame her and others to tarnish the image of Hindu saints and the saffron ideology. “They tried to destroy my life, but I survived. I leave the rest to divine justice,” she said.
The case, which was initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), was later handed over to the NIA in 2011. The NIA filed its chargesheet in 2016. Over the course of 17 years, the case saw three investigating agencies, four changes in judges, and repeated delays. The verdict was originally expected on May 8, 2025, but was postponed and finally delivered on July 31.
Judge Lahoti emphasized that there was no concrete proof to show that the accused had conspired together or that a terror conspiracy existed. The forensic and investigative lapses significantly weakened the prosecution’s case, he added.
The acquittal is likely to stir political reactions. The BJP may term it a vindication of its stand, while opposition parties and human rights groups are expected to raise concerns over the investigative failures and prolonged judicial process. The case had been at the center of the contentious “saffron terror” debate and its outcome is bound to have ripple effects across the political spectrum.
As the dust settles on one of the most politically sensitive terror cases in India, the verdict leaves behind questions — not just about the accused, but about the credibility of investigations, fairness of trials, and the larger impact of prolonged legal battles on the individuals involved and the nation’s collective conscience.
