Mumbai
Seventeen years after a deadly blast rocked Malegaon in Maharashtra, killing six and injuring over a hundred, a special NIA court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, citing lack of evidence.
The blast occurred on September 29, 2008, near Bhikku Chowk during Ramzan in the communally sensitive town. The trial, which saw five judges preside over the case and hundreds of witnesses testify, ended with Special Judge AK Lahoti declaring the prosecution failed to establish guilt beyond doubt.
The court noted inconsistencies in forensic evidence, such as an unclear engine number and erased chassis number on the motorcycle allegedly used in the blast, which was linked to Pragya Thakur. It also found no proof that RDX was stored at Lt Col Purohit’s residence or that he built the bomb.
All accused had been out on bail and were facing charges under the UAPA and IPC, including conspiracy and murder. The court emphasised that suspicion and public perception cannot replace evidence in a criminal trial.
The accused claimed torture and procedural violations. Thakur alleged her arrest was politically motivated and based on fabricated evidence. Purohit’s defence argued he was infiltrating the radical outfit Abhinav Bharat as part of his military duties.
The verdict comes after a lengthy trial involving over 323 prosecution witnesses and more than 10,800 documents. The court concluded, “Terrorism has no religion, but justice cannot be based on suspicion alone.”
