All seven accused, including Sadhvi Pragya and Colonel Purohit, acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The court stated that the prosecution failed to prove the charges and the evidence was insufficient.
Malegaon Blast Case: A special NIA court has delivered a significant verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The court has acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. In its decision, the court stated that the prosecution failed to prove the charges, and all the accused are entitled to the benefit of the doubt.
Six Dead, Over a Hundred Injured in the Explosion
The case dates back to September 29, 2008, when a powerful explosion occurred in the town of Malegaon, Maharashtra. The blast took place in a square in a Muslim-dominated area, resulting in the death of six people and injuries to more than 100. The incident occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, leading to its association with communal tensions.
Why Did the Court Acquit the Accused?
The court stated in its judgment that there was no concrete evidence regarding the motorcycle used in the explosion. The investigating agencies could not prove that the bomb was planted on the motorcycle or who parked it there. The source of the RDX could also not be confirmed. The forensic evidence was found to be incomplete and questionable. Furthermore, the statements of the witnesses were inconsistent.
Questions Raised on the Role of Investigating Agencies
The initial investigation of the case was conducted by the Maharashtra ATS. The ATS suspected that an IED was planted in an LML Freedom motorcycle. Later, information about tampering with the engine and chassis numbers of the bike came to light, and forensic investigation revealed that the bike belonged to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. Based on this, she was arrested. However, the subsequent investigation by the NIA raised doubts about the use of this bike.
NIA Itself Raised Questions on the Evidence
In 2016, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet recommending the removal of charges under MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act). The agency stated that the ATS had registered the case in haste and there were several flaws in the evidence. The NIA argued that the motorcycle was being used by the absconding accused Ramchandra Kalsangra and he had the bike for a year and a half before the blast.
During the investigation, it emerged that the accused had formed an organization called 'Abhinav Bharat'. It was alleged that they carried out the attack to avenge terrorist attacks by the Muslim community. However, the court did not accept these claims and said that sufficient evidence was not available.
