During the final stages of the trial, the NIA argued that the 2008 Malegaon blast, which killed six and injured over 100, was intended to incite communal discord and undermine state security. This marks a significant development in the nearly 16-year-old case.
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MUMBAI: The 2008 Malegaon blast, which resulted in the deaths of six people and injuries to over 100, was executed with the objective of inciting communal discord and compromising the internal security of the state, the prosecution argued during the final stages of the trial. These arguments, put forth by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), marked a significant development in a case that has spanned nearly 16 years.
On September 29, 2008, at precisely 9:35 pm, a bomb detonated opposite Shakil Goods Transport Company, nestled between Anjuman Chowk and Bhiku Chowk in Malegaon. This tragic incident not only claimed six lives but also left 101 individuals injured. The prosecution claims that the explosion was caused by an improvised explosive device (IED) attached to a motorcycle, which allegedly belonged to former Bhopal MP Pragya Thakur.
“The blasts occurred during the holy month of Ramzan, just before the Navratri Utsav. The conspirators aimed to terrorize people and cause loss of life and property.”
-stated the NIA, represented by special public prosecutors Avinash Rasal and Anushree Rasal.
It was carried out with an intention to disrupt supplies and services essential to the community to create communal rift, and to endanger internal security of the state.
The trial involves seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. The other accused are Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, and Sudhakar Chaturvedi, all facing charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The trial against another accused, Sameer Kulkarni, has been stayed by the Supreme Court.
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Initially, the case was investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being transferred to the NIA. During the final arguments, the prosecution referenced the ATS investigation, which claimed that accused Purohit had transported RDX from Kashmir after completing his posting there and stored it in his house.
Further ATS findings indicated the presence of RDX traces in the Nashik residence of Sudhakar Chaturvedi, where the bomb was allegedly assembled. The prosecution argued that Pragya Thakur knowingly provided her motorcycle for the bombing.
In 2016, after assuming control of the investigation, the NIA filed a chargesheet that exonerated Thakur and three other accused, Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takalki, and Shivnarayan Kalsangra, citing insufficient evidence. However, the NIA court only acquitted Sahu, Kalsangra, and Takalki, insisting that Thakur must stand trial.
“The special court had dismissed the charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused.”
-clarified the NIA in its final arguments.
On October 30, 2018, the court framed charges against seven accused under UAPA and IPC sections, including 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act), as well as IPC sections 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 153 (a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups).
The trial officially began in 2018 with the examination of the first witness, and the recording of prosecution witnesses’ testimonies concluded in September of the previous year. As the final arguments resumed on Thursday and are set to continue on today(26th July), the prosecution remains steadfast in its assertion of the accused’s intent to incite communal violence and endanger state security.