In a significant verdict, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday, July 31, acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit.
The court dropped all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), citing insufficient evidence.
The blast took place on September 29, 2008, when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded near the Bhikku Chowk mosque in Malegaon city, Nashik district, Maharashtra. The explosion occurred during the holy month of Ramzan and days before the Hindu festival of Navratri, resulting in six deaths and injuries to over 100 people in the communally sensitive town.
After nearly 17 years of legal proceedings, the judgment was delivered in a packed courtroom with all the accused present, as previously directed by the court. The court also ordered compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of each of the six deceased and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured.
The trial involved a lengthy legal process, with case files exceeding one lakh pages.
Final hearings concluded in April this year, and the court had reserved its verdict on April 19. Given the complexity of the case, the court took additional time to scrutinise the material before announcing its decision.
During the trial, the prosecution examined 323 witnesses, 34 of whom turned hostile, significantly weakening the case.
The initial investigation was conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which made the arrests and filed the first charge sheet. In 2011, the case was transferred to the NIA.
In 2016, the NIA filed a supplementary charge sheet, dropping charges against several accused, including Sadhvi Pragya, citing lack of evidence to prosecute them under the anti-terror laws.
All the accused were out on bail during the trial. They had faced serious charges, including conspiracy, murder, and use of explosives under provisions of the UAPA and IPC.
(IANS inputs)