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The prosecution had alleged that the blast was done by right -wing extremists and their intention was to establish ‘Aryavarta’ (Hindu Rashtra). A total of 14 people were arrested in the case.
Mumbai: One of the country’s longest terrorist cases, 7 people faced a case of terrorist acts under the illegal activity (prevention) Act in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and murder and criminal conspiracy under the IPC. On September 29, 2008, an explosive equipment tied on a bike near a mosque in Malegaon city, about 200 km from Mumbai exploded, killed 6 people and injured 101. The prosecution had alleged that the blast was done by right -wing extremists and their intention was to establish ‘Aryavarta’ (Hindu Rashtra). A total of 14 people were arrested in the case, but only seven faced the trial, as the remaining 7 was acquitted from the case at the time of the allegations. A special court on Thursday acquitted all the 7 accused including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit.
These seven accused faced trial for 17 years
- Pragya Singh Thakur: He was arrested in October 2008 by the Preliminary Investigation Agency Maharashtra Anti -Terrorism Squad (ATS). After alleging that the bike on which the bomb was placed was registered in his name. The prosecution had claimed that Thakur had also attended a meeting with the co-accused of the case in Bhopal, where it was discussed that the Muslim community should be replaced to explode in Malegaon in 2006. During this meeting, Thakur allegedly said that she would provide manpower to explode. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) demanded a clean chit to Thakur in 2016 after taking into its hand. However, a special court refused and said that Thakur would have to face the trial. On April 25, 2017, Thakur spent more than eight years in jail before being granted bail by the Bombay High Court. However, he was not given a ticket during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Prasad Srikanth Purohit: When he was arrested by the ATS, he was working as a lieutenant colonel in the Indian Army. He was accused of joining the meetings where the alleged conspiracy of the blast was hatched. Purohit was arrested in November 2008 and in September 2017, the Supreme Court gave him a bail. In his final statement in the court, Purohit alleged that during interrogation, senior ATS officials tortured him physically. He said that the prosecution has made a false case against him.
- Ramesh Upadhyay: A retired army Major, he was also accused of attending a meeting in Bhopal, where the conspiracy was hatched. The prosecution claimed that Upadhyay had insisted on the formation of “Hindu Rashtra”.
- Sameer Kulkarni: He was also accused of joining the meetings where the alleged conspiracy was hatched and the plan was discussed. He was arrested in October 2008 and in September 2017, the Bombay High Court gave him a bail.
- Ajay Rahirkar: He was allegedly the treasurer of the ‘Abhinav Bharat’ organization. He was accused of distributing weapons and explosives to the co-accused and co-accused for buying arms and explosives for their illegal activities, according to the instructions of accused Prasad Purohit. He was arrested on November 2, 2008 and has been out on bail since November 11, 2011.
- Sudhakar Dwivedi: He was accused of attending a meeting in Nashik, where co-accused priests had allegedly shown videos of atrocities on Hindus by Muslims.
- Sudhakar Chaturvedi: He was also accused of being present during the Nashik meeting. He was arrested in November 2008 and in 2017 he was granted bail by a special court.
Also read: 2008 Malegaon explosion: All 7 accused including prosecution arguments did not rest in court, Pragya acquitted
