We were asked to arrest RSS chief: Ex-ATS officer

New Delhi

A former Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer has claimed he was instructed to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during the 2008 Malegaon blast probe. Mehboob Mujawar, who was part of the original investigation team, said he refused the order due to lack of evidence and was later falsely implicated.

Mujawar said the directive came from senior officials, including Parambir Singh. He was tasked with locating absconding accused Sandip Dange and Ramji Kalsangra, but was also told to arrest Bhagwat. “I stayed in Nagpur as told, but I did not arrest him. There was no evidence,” Mujawar said.

He added that the pressure came during a time when the term “saffron terror” was gaining attention. Mujawar claimed he was given official resources — a team, funds, and a service revolver — but chose not to act unlawfully.

Following his refusal, Mujawar alleged he was framed, jailed, and a charge sheet was filed against him. “I was later acquitted after submitting all documents to court proving Bhagwat’s innocence. These were also shared with the NIA,” he stated.

His statement comes after a special NIA court acquitted all seven accused in the Malegaon case, including Sadhvi Pragya and Lt Col Purohit. The court dropped all charges under the UAPA, IPC, and Arms Act due to lack of evidence.

The blast in Malegaon on September 29, 2008, killed six people and injured over 100. The trial lasted 17 years, involving over 1 lakh pages of records and 323 witnesses, of whom 34 turned hostile. Compensation was ordered for victims' families.