In a sensational revelation, retired Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer Mehboob Mujawar has claimed that he was instructed to arrest Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat in connection with the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Mujawar alleges the direction came from then-Investigating Officer Paramveer Singh, with the intention of building a ‘saffron terror’ narrative.
Speaking exclusively Mujawar said, “The directive to arrest the RSS chief was part of a larger plot to construct a fabricated story of saffron terror in India.” His statement follows the recent trial court verdict acquitting all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, in the Malegaon blast case that claimed six lives and injured over 100 people.
‘Fabricated Probe’, Says Retired Officer
Mujawar further stated that the acquittal verdict exposes what he described as a “fabricated investigation” carried out by a “fake officer.” He claimed that his own name was falsely dragged into the case when he refused to carry out the unlawful instructions. “I was falsely implicated for not following an illegal order,” he alleged.
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The court’s judgment has reignited the political and legal debate surrounding the high-profile case, raising serious questions about the credibility of the initial investigation.
What happened on September 29, 2008
On September 29, 2008, a devastating bomb blast struck a crowded chowk in Malegaon, a Muslim-majority town in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. The explosion, which occurred during the holy month of Ramadan and just before the Hindu festival of Navratri, was suspected to be an attempt to ignite communal unrest in the region.
Initially probed by local police, the investigation was soon transferred to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which took over the high-profile case amid rising public and political pressure.
ATS Traces Motorcycle to Pragya Thakur, Arrests Follow
According to the ATS, the explosive device had been planted on an LML Freedom motorcycle found at the blast site. Investigators claimed that the vehicle’s engine and chassis numbers had been tampered with. However, forensic experts were reportedly able to restore the original numbers, which allegedly traced the bike back to Pragya Singh Thakur.
On October 23, 2008, Thakur was arrested. In the weeks that followed, 10 more individuals were taken into custody, including Army officer Lt Col Prasad Purohit. Authorities alleged that the group was part of an organisation named Abhinav Bharat, formed with the aim of carrying out targeted attacks. The accused were charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
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The case drew national attention for its sensitive timing, communal overtones, and the unprecedented involvement of individuals from religious and military backgrounds. As legal proceedings continue and public interest remains high, the Malegaon blast case stands as one of the most controversial terror investigations in India’s modern history.
