Mumbai: In a landmark judgment that brings a 17-year-long legal battle to an end, a special court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. The court cited lack of sufficient evidence as the basis for its verdict.
Special Judge A.K. Lahoti, who presided over the case, declared the acquittals after reviewing testimonies and material submitted by both the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the NIA, which took over the probe in 2011.
On September 29, 2008, a bomb tied to a motorcycle exploded in a crowded area of Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. The blast claimed six lives and injured over 100 people, triggering a nationwide controversy and leading to the arrest of several individuals accused of being linked to Hindu extremist networks.
In its ruling, the court observed that while the motorcycle used in the attack was linked to Pragya Thakur, the evidence failed to prove that she or any of the accused were involved in placing or triggering the explosive device. It further stated that the bomb was likely placed outside the motorcycle, not inside it, challenging the original theory presented by the prosecution.
Regarding Lt. Col. Purohit, the court ruled that there was no evidence of RDX being stored, transported, or sourced from his residence. It also noted that there was no material to establish that he was involved in assembling or deploying the bomb. In addition, the judge highlighted inconsistencies in the medical documentation used during the investigation, suggesting possible manipulation.
