Malegaon blast case verdict updates | A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai delivered its verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, one of the country’s most closely watched terror trials. The case, which has spanned nearly 17 years, featured high-profile accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and serving army officer Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit.
NIA court’s special judge AK Lahoti said the prosecution failed to prove the allegations and that all seven accused deserve the benefit of doubt.
Delivering its verdict on Thursday, the court stated that while the prosecution successfully proved that the blast occurred, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) failed to establish that the bomb was planted on the motorcycle.
The court further noted that although there are claims of RDX being used in the explosion, there is no evidence to show that it was stored at Lt Col Purohit’s residence or that he assembled the bomb. It also observed that there is no proof confirming that the motorcycle involved belonged to Pragya Thakur.
The blast occurred on September 29, 2008, during the holy month of Ramadan, in a densely populated Muslim locality of Malegaon, Maharashtra. The explosion, triggered by an improvised explosive device strapped to a motorcycle, resulted in six deaths and injured 101 others. Initial investigations were conducted by local police and later taken over by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Prosecution Highlights Conspiracy and Motive Behind the Attack
The ATS traced the motorcycle used in the blast to Pragya Singh Thakur. She was arrested on October 23, 2008, leading to a series of further arrests including that of Lt Col Prasad Purohit.
According to the ATS, the accused had formed a group called Abhinav Bharat and allegedly carried out the attack as an act of revenge for terror attacks perpetrated by Muslim groups. They were charged under multiple provisions, including the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
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In 2011, the case was transferred to the NIA. After reviewing the evidence collected by ATS, the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet in 2016, recommending the dropping of MCOCA and questioning the credibility of the confessional statements recorded earlier.
While the NIA sought to remove Thakur’s name from the list of accused, the court disagreed, stating that she still had to face trial under UAPA, IPC and the Explosive Substances Act.
Seven individuals, including Pragya Thakur, Prasad Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Sudhakar Onkarnath Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, and Sudhakar Dwivedi, were ultimately put on trial. Three others—Shivnarayan Kalsangra, Shyamlal Sahu, and Pravin Takalki—were discharged due to lack of evidence, while two others will face trial under the Arms Act only.
The trial, which formally began in 2018, concluded on April 19, 2025. The judgement has been reserved and is expected to be pronounced shortly.
