The 2008 Malegaon blast case finally reached closure after a 17-year-long trial, with all seven accused acquitted by a special court. Here’s a complete timeline of key events.
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MUMBAI: Today, a special court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Among them were high-profile individuals like former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, both of whom had been out on bail for years.
Seventeen years after a blast shook Malegaon and left behind a trail of death, destruction, and communal tension, justice, at least in terms of legal closure, has been delivered.
Malegaon Blast Case, 2008
On the evening of September 29, 2008, a low-intensity bomb fitted to a motorcycle exploded near Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, Maharashtra. The town, known for its communal sensitivity, plunged into chaos. The blast, coming in the holy month of Ramzan and just before Navratri, killed six people and injured over 100 others.
The case was initially filed by the Azad Nagar Police Station, but was subsequently re-registered by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in November 2008, with charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) added later.
Malegaon Blast Case: A Recap
October 2008:
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), then led by Hemant Karkare, took over the probe. The investigation took a dramatic turn when links were established to individuals associated with Hindu right-wing groups.
Sadhvi Pragya was arrested after the ATS claimed her motorcycle was used in the blast. The agency alleged she played an active role in the planning and logistics.
Soon after, Lt Col Purohit was arrested under charges of conspiracy and sourcing explosives through his association with the group Abhinav Bharat.
January 2009:
The ATS filed its first chargesheet naming several individuals, sparking national debates and political controversy around the term “Hindu terror.”
April 2011:
In 2011, the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The NIA filed multiple charge sheets and supplementary reports over the next few years.
While dropping MCOCA charges, the NIA retained stringent provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Arms Act, and sections of the Indian Penal Code. The agency also claimed discrepancies in the ATS investigation, including allegations of custodial torture.
2018: Charges Framed:
Formal charges were framed in 2018 against seven accused:
- Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur
- Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit
- Major (Retd) Ramesh Upadhyay
- Ajay Rahirkar
- Sudhakar Dwivedi
- Sudhakar Chaturvedi
- Sameer Kulkarni
2018–2023: Examination of Witnesses:
The court examined 323 prosecution witnesses and 8 defence witnesses. Around 40 witnesses turned hostile, which further weakened the prosecution’s case.
More than 10,800 exhibits and 400 physical articles were submitted during the trial.
April 2025:
After over 16 years of proceedings, the trial entered its final phase. The prosecution submitted 1,300 pages of written arguments. The judgment was reserved on April 19, 2025.
July 31, 2025: The Verdict:
The Special NIA Court in Mumbai pronounced its verdict: All seven accused acquitted.
The court found insufficient evidence to prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt. With this, a case that had become a lightning rod for debates around politics, religion, and national security finally reached a legal conclusion.
Case Title: Maharashtra vs Pragyasingh Chandrapalsingh Thakur
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