Mumbai’s special NIA court on Thursday delivered its verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, acquitting all accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. The verdict marks the end of one of India’s longest-running terror trials, nearly 17 years after a deadly explosion claimed six lives and injured 95 others in Malegaon, Maharashtra.
The court ruled that the prosecution failed to establish that a bomb was placed on the motorcycle linked to the blast, which was initially traced back to Thakur. The case was notable for being the first terror case in India where alleged Hindu extremists were prosecuted under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the anti-terrorism law.
What Happened in the 2008 Malegaon Blast?
On September 29, 2008, during the holy month of Ramadan, a bomb exploded in a busy chowk area in the Muslim-majority town of Malegaon in Nashik district. The attack came just ahead of the Hindu festival of Navratri, and authorities suspected it was aimed at sparking communal tensions.
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The blast was initially investigated by local police but later handed over to the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The ATS claimed the bomb was planted on an LML Freedom motorcycle with a tampered engine and chassis number. Forensic restoration of the numbers allegedly led them to Pragya Singh Thakur, who was arrested on October 23, 2008. Soon after, 10 others, including Lt Col Purohit, were arrested. The group was accused of forming an outfit named Abhinav Bharat and charged under MCOCA.
NIA’s Entry and Legal Twists
In 2011, the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA later challenged the way MCOCA was invoked and dropped it in its 2016 supplementary chargesheet. While the agency recommended dropping Thakur’s name as an accused, the court said there was still reason to try her under UAPA and IPC sections.
The NIA also argued that the motorcycle, though registered to Thakur, was being used by absconding accused Ramchandra Kalsangra at the time of the blast. It also found inconsistencies in the ATS’s reliance on confessions and medical certificates of the injured.
Eventually, only seven accused — Thakur, Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, and Sudhakar Dwivedi — went to trial. The others were discharged due to insufficient evidence.
Verdict After 17 Years
The trial formally began in 2018 and concluded on April 19, 2025. The accused were charged under UAPA sections 16 and 18, various IPC sections including murder and criminal conspiracy, and provisions of the Explosive Substances Act and Arms Act. The prosecution argued that the blast was orchestrated to instil fear in the Muslim community and provoke communal unrest.
However, the court ultimately held that the prosecution could not prove the charges beyond doubt and acquitted all remaining accused.
