A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Thursday delivered its long-awaited verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, acquitting all seven accused, including Bharatiya Janata Party’s former Member of Parliament, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. The blast, which occurred in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon in Maharashtra, had claimed six lives and injured over 100 people.
The acquitted individuals also include Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, Major (Retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni. All were previously charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including charges of murder and criminal conspiracy. Despite the NIA seeking “commensurate punishment,” the court found no grounds for conviction.
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Who is Pragya Thakur? From Accused to MP
- Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur’s name became nationally known when she was arrested in connection with the Malegaon blast. Here’s a closer look at her journey:
- Accused in Malegaon Blast: Thakur was arrested in 2008 for her alleged role in the Malegaon explosion. The NIA accused her of participating in a larger conspiracy aimed at inciting communal violence.
- Bhopal MP Victory in 2019: Despite her legal troubles, Thakur contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal and defeated senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh by over 3.6 lakh votes.
- Claims of False Accusation: In her final statement to the court, she asserted that the charges against her were “illegal” and born of “malafide intent.” She also alleged the evidence had been manipulated to falsely implicate her.
- Known for Controversies: Thakur has made multiple controversial remarks, most notably calling Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin, a “patriot.” Her comments sparked national outrage and criticism from even within her party.
- Religious Identity: Before entering politics, she was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and identified herself as a “sadhvi,” maintaining strong links with religious and nationalist groups.
As the dust settles on one of India’s most prolonged terror trials, questions remain about the investigation, the political implications, and the deep societal divides that the Malegaon case brought to light.
