Today, On 31st July, In the 2008 Malegaon blast case, the court acquitted former BJP MP Pragya Thakur and others, stating “Suspicion not enough.” The blast had occurred during Ramzan near Bhikku Chowk in the communally sensitive town.
Former BJP MP Pragya Thakur was acquitted of all charges in the 2008 Malegaon blast case by a Mumbai court today, which stated there was insufficient evidence to prove that the motorcycle allegedly used in the attack belonged to her.
The judge highlighted that while the prosecution successfully demonstrated that the blast occurred, it failed to establish that explosives were attached to the LML Freedom motorcycle purportedly owned by Ms. Thakur.
Acquitting her after one of the longest terror trials in Indian history,the judge stated,
“The motorbike’s chassis number was wiped out and engine number is in doubt. There is no evidence to show Sadhvi (Pragya Thakur) is the owner and no evidence to show she was in possession of the vehicle,”
Responding to her acquittal, Sadhvi Pragya, teary eyed said,
“Aaj Hindutva ki Vijay hua h”.
Sadhvi pragya with teary eyed comments,
“They defamed Bhagwa through a conspiracy. Today, Bhagwa has won.”
This verdict concludes a 17-year saga involving Pragya Thakur, daughter of an Ayurvedic practitioner from Madhya Pradesh, who gained national attention after being accused of orchestrating terror attacks in retaliation for previous strikes, including the 2006 Mumbai train blasts.
In her late 30s at the time, Thakur became associated with the term “Hindu terror,” which emerged following the 2008 Malegaon blasts.
She was alleged to have organized manpower for the attack, while her co-accused, former Army officer Prasad Purohit, was said to have supplied the explosives. Both were acquitted today, along with five others.
The investigation was initially conducted by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which was led at the time by Hemant Karkare, who would later be killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The ATS made its first arrests in October 2008. The motorcycle allegedly used in the blast was traced back to Pragya Thakur, with authorities asserting that she had lent it to the conspirators. They claimed she was part of a group that included former military personnel and members of a lesser-known radical organization called Abhinav Bharat.
The explosion occurred on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon, a town in Maharashtra known for its communal sensitivities. Happening during the month of Ramzan and just prior to the Navratri festival, the blast resulted in six fatalities and over 100 injuries.
Sadhvi Pragya, who later became a Member of Parliament from Bhopal, was arrested in October 2008. The motorcycle linked to the blast was registered under her name. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) asserted that she was involved in a conspiracy aimed at targeting areas with Muslim majorities as retaliation for previous terrorist incidents.
In its verdict announced today, the court stated that the prosecution successfully proved that the blast occurred, but it failed to establish that the bomb was fitted in the motorcycle.
List of Respondents and Advocates in High-Profile Case: National Investigation Agency v Pragyasingh Chandrapalsingh Thakur and Ors
- Pragyasingh Chandrapalsingh Thakur @ Swami Purna Chtnanand Giri & Ors.
Represented by Advocate J. P. Mishra and Advocate Maggu - Shivnarayan Kalsangra
- Shyam Sahu
- Shri Ramesh Shivji Upadhyaya
Represented by a multi-member legal team including:- Advocate Pasbola
- Advocate Divya Singh
- Advocate Mrunal Bhide
- Advocate Swaraj Sable
- Advocate Pranav Gole
- Sameer Sharad Kulkarni @ Chanakya Sameer
- Ajay @ Raja Eknath Rahirkar
Represented by Advocate J. P. Mishra - Rakesh Dattatray Dhawde
- Jagdish Chintaman Mhatre
- Prasad Shrikant Purohit
Represented by:- Advocate Phadke
- Advocate Babar
- Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi @ Dayanand Pandey @ Swami Amrutanand Devtirth
Represented by:- Advocate Ranjeet Sangle
- Advocate Chaitnya Kulkarni
- Sudhakar Onkarnath Chaturvedi @ Chanakya Sudhakar
Represented by a legal team including:- Advocate Punalekar
- Advocate Salsingikar
- Advocate Sachin Kanse
- Advocate Ashish Kanojiya
- Advocate Nair
- Praveen Vyankatesh Takkalki
Case Title: National Investigation Agency vs Pragyasingh Chandrapalsingh Thakur and Ors.
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