Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Purohit Declared Innocent: All Accused Acquitted in Malegaon Blast Case After 17 Years

Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Purohit declared innocent ruling in the 2008 Malegaon blast case has raised significant questions: Were they wrongly framed? Was justice delayed for the innocent? And most importantly—did the real culprits ever get caught?

📆 The 2008 Incident That Sparked It All

On 29th September 2008, twin bomb explosions in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon, Maharashtra shocked the nation. The blasts occurred during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, targeting a crowded area near a mosque. Six people died, and nearly a hundred were injured. The attack bore the hallmarks of an act of terror, and soon the Maharashtra ATS began investigations.

What followed, however, was unprecedented.

🔍 Accused Belonged to Unusual Profiles

Unlike previous terror cases involving suspected Islamist groups, this case turned towards individuals allegedly linked to Hindu nationalist organisations. Names like Pragya Singh Thakur, a Sadhvi and later a BJP MP, and Lt. Col. Purohit, a serving Army officer, were suddenly at the center of the investigation.

They were accused of plotting the attack as part of a broader conspiracy involving a little-known group, Abhinav Bharat. The investigators claimed that the motorcycle used in the bombing was registered in Pragya Thakur’s name. Lt. Col. Purohit was accused of supplying the RDX.

But years later, the Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit declared innocent judgment reveals how fragile and unsubstantiated those claims were.

⚖️ Court’s Findings: No Evidence, No Conviction

The special NIA court, after years of hearing arguments and reviewing evidence, came to a firm conclusion: the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

Several critical factors led to the acquittal:

• No conclusive proof that the vehicle used in the blasts was under the control of Pragya Singh Thakur at the time of the incident.
• Sanction under UAPA—a prerequisite for prosecution—was defective, rendering key charges legally invalid.
• No direct or forensic evidence linking Lt. Col. Purohit to the explosives allegedly used in the attack.
• Witnesses turned hostile or retracted statements, weakening the foundation of the case.
• The court found multiple inconsistencies in the investigation, including procedural lapses and questionable statements taken in custody.

In short, while the case was politically and communally charged, the legal evidence did not support conviction. Hence, all accused were acquitted.

🗣️ What the Accused Said After Acquittal

Following the verdict, Pragya Singh Thakur, who is now a sitting MP from Bhopal, said:
“Truth has finally triumphed. I was wrongly framed and tortured. But I never gave up my faith in the judiciary.”

Lt. Col. Purohit, who spent nearly nine years in jail before being granted bail, emotionally stated:
“My career, family, and life were shattered. I knew I was innocent. The verdict has given me back my honour.”

Other co-accused expressed relief, saying they had been branded terrorists for nearly two decades without cause.

The Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit declared innocent ruling has thus become symbolic of the long road to clearing one’s name once accused of terror.

🧭 Reactions from Political and Legal Circles

The verdict triggered a wave of mixed reactions:

• Supporters hailed it as a victory for truth and claimed the accused were victims of a politically motivated witch hunt.
• Opposition parties and civil rights groups questioned the fairness of the investigation and lamented that victims got no justice.
• Some asked the hard question: If the accused are innocent, then who really planted the bombs?

Senior lawyers and former judges stressed that the verdict should be a lesson for agencies on the importance of evidence-driven investigation over ideological bias.

📌 Broader Implications of the Verdict

The Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit declared innocent case has set a precedent in multiple ways:

1. Due Process Matters: Even in terror cases, legal procedures like proper sanction orders under UAPA are essential.
2. Burden of Proof Is Sacred: The state cannot jail people for years without evidence that survives legal scrutiny.
3. Investigative Agencies Must Be Held Accountable: Mishandled evidence, delayed chargesheets, and politically influenced narratives can destroy innocent lives.

🧩 Justice Served or Justice Denied?

This acquittal presents a paradox. On one side, seven people who may have been falsely implicated are finally free. On the other hand, six innocent victims of the Malegaon blasts have no clarity on who killed them.

In a justice system built on the rule of law, the real tragedy is when neither the innocent nor the victims find closure.

📚 Conclusion

The Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Purohit declared innocent decision is a defining moment in India’s legal journey through terrorism-related trials. It shows that justice—no matter how delayed—must still be just, based on law and facts, not media headlines or political pressure.

As the dust settles, one can only hope that future investigations are guided not by ideology, but by truth.

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