All accused acquitted in 2008 Malegaon blast case after 17-year trial

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on July 31 acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including former BJP lawmaker Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, bringing an end to one of India’s longest and most politically sensitive terror trials.

The blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, near Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killed six people and injured over 100 others, many of them Muslim residents observing Ramzan. An explosive device strapped to a motorcycle parked in the crowded area had triggered the explosion, leading to widespread panic in the communally sensitive town.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which initially investigated the case, arrested Thakur, Purohit and five others, alleging they were linked to the right-wing group Abhinav Bharat and had orchestrated the attack. The accused were booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act.

After the case was transferred to the NIA in 2011, the prosecution struggled to substantiate its charges. On Wednesday, Special Judge AK Lahoti ruled that the prosecution had failed to prove the allegations beyond reasonable doubt. The court held that mere suspicion could not form the basis of a conviction and declared that there was “no credible evidence” linking the accused to the blast.

The court noted that there was no conclusive proof that the motorcycle used in the blast belonged to Thakur or that Purohit was in possession of or handled the explosives. Forensic evidence was either inconclusive or contaminated, and procedural lapses, including improper sanctioning under UAPA, further weakened the prosecution’s case.

“The prosecution has not been able to establish a chain of evidence. Suspicion, however grave, cannot substitute proof,” Judge Lahoti stated in his verdict.

Pragya Thakur welcomed the verdict, calling it a “victory for Hindutva” and claiming she had been framed to malign the saffron ideology. Lt Col Purohit said he was “grateful to the judiciary” for the verdict and reiterated his faith in the justice system.

Meanwhile, the court ordered compensation of ₹2 lakh to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to each of the injured.

The verdict drew sharp political reactions. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the ruling, saying on X, “The Malegaon blast case verdict is disappointing.” The Malegaon case had become emblematic of the fraught intersection of terrorism, communal tensions and politics in India. The use of terms like “saffron terror” and the prosecution of Hindu nationalists had sparked intense political debate over the years.

With the acquittals, legal experts say the case underscores the need for prosecutorial rigour and investigative accountability, especially in cases involving terrorism. The NIA has not yet said whether it will appeal the verdict.

investigationLt Col Prasad PurohitMalegaon BlastNIAPragya Singh Thakur