Pragya Thakur, 6 others acquitted in Malegaon blast case; ‘can’t convict on moral evidence’: NIA court
Special Judge AK Lahoti flagged several loopholes in the prosecution's case and the investigation carried out, and said the accused persons deserved the benefit of doubt
A special NIA court on Thursday (July 31) acquitted all the seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and former Army officer Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit in the September 2008 Malegaon blasts case in which six persons were killed and 101 others injured.
Special Judge AK Lahoti, assigned to hear cases of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), flagged several loopholes in the prosecution's case and the investigation carried out, and said the accused persons deserved the benefit of doubt.
The judge, while reading out the judgement, said there was no "reliable and cogent" evidence to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt. The provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) were not applicable to the case, the court said.
The court also said that it was not established that the motorbike used in the blast was registered in the name of Thakur, as claimed by the prosecution. It has also not been established that the blast was carried out by the bomb allegedly planted on the bike, the court said.
“The court has come to the conclusion that the injured people were not 101 but 95 only, and there was manipulation in some medical certificates,” the court ruled.
Seven accused, including BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni faced trial in the case.
The charges comprised UAPA sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) and various IPC sections, including 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153 (a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups).
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which conducted the probe into the case, has sought "commensurate punishment" for the accused.
The trial, which started in 2018, got over on April 19, 2025, and the case was reserved for judgement.
The explosive device, allegedly strapped to a motorcycle, detonated near a mosque on September 29, 2008.
The blast took place during the holy month of Ramzan, just before the Navratri festival, the NIA pointed out, claiming the intention of the accused was to strike terror in a section of the Muslim community.
The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being transferred to the NIA in 2011.
Also read related Malegaon stories:
Maharashtra: Judge conducting trial in 2008 Malegaon blast case transferred
Malegaon blast case: Pragya, two other accused exempted from court appearance
Malegaon blast: Pragya Thakur’s plea rejected; asked to be present in court
Malegaon blast case: Another witness turns hostile; says forced to name Yogi
Pragya appears in NIA court, says didn't know about Malegaon blast
Pragya was stripped, beaten by Karkare: Malegaon blast case accused
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Live Updates
- 31 July 2025 1:58 PM IST
Everyone knows where terrorism thrives: BJP MP Medha Kulkarni
BJP MP Medha Kulkarni says, “... It is a very good decision and we are all happy. This fight was going on for 17 years, and baseless allegations were made against Sadhvi Pragya Singh, our Pune Colonel Prasad Purohit, and others by calling it saffron terrorism. We have seen what they did, Sadhvi Pragya... But today justice has been served. I congratulate the judiciary... I am very sorry that whenever the issue of terrorism comes up, different names come to the fore. Everyone knows where terrorism thrives and who is its master. Still, Congress leaders have always tried to balance it by saying that terrorism has no religion. Terrorism is happening on the basis of religion. In Pahalgam, people were killed after asking about their religion. Was that not religious terrorism? False allegations are made to balance it...” - 31 July 2025 1:55 PM IST
No such thing as 'Hindu terrorism': BJP MP Dinesh Sharma
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma says, “Today is a historic day and also a day of joy because the UPA government played a game of misusing government institutions... The UPA government gave rise to a new form of terrorism, which they started calling ‘Hindu terrorism’. To prove this narrative of the UPA government correct, they imprisoned leaders with Sanatana leanings under false accusations. Today it has been proven that there is no such thing as ‘Hindu terrorism’... A Hindu cannot be a terrorist, and if someone is a terrorist, they cannot be a Hindu—this statement has been proven meaningful today...” - 31 July 2025 1:44 PM IST
‘If not them, then who’: Imran Masood questions acquittal of Malegaon blast accused
Congress MP Imran Masood reacted to the NIA court’s acquittal in the Malegaon blast case by questioning who was responsible if not the accused.
He pointed out that the police had linked and submitted the case, and yet justice appears elusive.
Emphasising unity in national security, Masood stated that terrorism should not be seen through the lens of religion — neither Hindu nor Muslim.
- 31 July 2025 1:26 PM IST
A Hindu cannot be a terrorist: Nishikant Dubey
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey defended the acquittal of all accused in the Malegaon blast case, asserting that “a Hindu cannot be a terrorist” and that all proven terrorists in India belong to one religion.
He blamed the Congress for coining and propagating the term “saffron terrorism,” calling it a politically motivated move.
Dubey added that instead of targeting Pakistani terrorists, Congress is falsely implicating Indian citizens.
- 31 July 2025 1:24 PM IST
Akhilesh Yadav questions acquittal of Malegaon bomb blast accused
Reacting to the NIA court’s acquittal in the Malegaon blast case, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav said those involved in such a serious incident should have been punished.
He suggested that the verdict may be an attempt to divert attention from Trump's tariffs on India.
Shifting focus to national security, Yadav warned that China is not only encroaching on Indian territory but also threatening the country’s economy and businesses.
- 31 July 2025 1:16 PM IST
No evidence against accused in Malegaon blast case, so court acquitted them: Union Minister Ramdas Athawale
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale responded to the NIA court’s acquittal of all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case by saying the decision was based on a lack of evidence.
He emphasised that despite the long duration of the trial, the court could not convict anyone without proof.
Athawale added that terrorism has no religion and those involved in such acts should be viewed as terrorists alone.
- 31 July 2025 12:52 PM IST
Malegaon blast accused: Who are Pragya Thakur, Lt Col Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay and others?
A special NIA court has acquitted all the 7 accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case. They are: Pragya Thakur, former BJP MP from Bhopal, Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni.
Pragya Singh Thakur
Accused No. 1 in the case, Pragya Singh Thakur alias Swami Purna Chetananand Giri (55), hails from Madhya Pradesh and was an activist of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP).
In 2019, despite facing terror allegations, Thakur was fielded by the BJP as its Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal and went on to win the seat.
During her tenure in Parliament, she sparked controversy by referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin as a “deshbhakt” (patriot).
Ramesh Upadhyay
A retired Major from the Indian Army, Ramesh Upadhyay was accused of participating in a 2008 Faridabad meeting where he, along with co-accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit, allegedly supported the idea of a separate constitution for a “Hindu Rashtra.”
Lt Col Prasad Purohit
Then a serving Army officer, Prasad Purohit was arrested for his alleged role in founding the Abhinav Bharat organisation in 2006.
The anti-terror squad (ATS) further claimed that Purohit procured RDX for the blast while posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
Ajay Rahirkar
A Pune-based businessman, Rahirkar was arrested for allegedly serving as the treasurer of Abhinav Bharat.
Authorities claimed the organisation was founded in 2006 at his residence in Pune.
Sudhakar Chaturvedi
Chaturvedi was allegedly an informant for Indian Army Military Intelligence. He was residing in Deolali, Nashik, at the time of the blast.
The ATS claimed RDX traces were found during a search of his rented accommodation on November 25, 2008.
A forensic report allegedly indicated that the explosive material recovered from the site matched samples found at his residence.
Sameer Kulkarni
A social worker from Pune, Kulkarni was the fifth person arrested in the case in 2008.
He was accused of supporting the formation of “Aryawrat” and participating in discussions about retaliatory actions against Muslims.
Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi
Named as the 10th accused, Dwivedi was implicated after the ATS reportedly recovered a laptop from him containing audio and video recordings of meetings linked to the conspiracy.
He later claimed he had been coerced into making false statements and alleged that he was wrongly arrested due to mistaken identity, asserting he was a Shankaracharya.
Dwivedi also argued during the trial that the injuries and deaths were not caused by a blast. He filed a plea asking to be addressed as Swami Amrutanand or Shankaracharya, citing his renunciation of worldly life — a request the court dismissed.
- 31 July 2025 12:39 PM IST
Owaisi slams Malegaon verdict, questions 'tough on terror' Modi govt, NIA, ATS
AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi sharply criticised the acquittal of all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, calling it a result of a deliberately weak investigation.
He questioned whether the Modi and Fadnavis governments would swiftly appeal the verdict as they did in the case of Mumbai train blasts acquittals
He highlighted the NIA’s alleged attempts to "go soft" on the accused, including former-BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur.
Asking whether NIA and ATS officers will be held accountable for their faulty investigation, he said the World will remember that the "tough on terror" Modi government made a terror accused a Member of Parliament.
- 31 July 2025 12:30 PM IST
Timeline of events in 2008 Malegaon blasts case
A special NIA court on Thursday (July 31) acquitted all the seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case. Here is the timeline of the events:
September 29, 2008: A bomb planted on a motorcycle goes off at Malegaon in Maharashtra's Nashik district. Six persons killed and 101 injured.
September 30, 2008: An FIR is lodged at Azad Nagar Police station in Malegaon.
October 21, 2008: Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) takes over the probe into the case.
October 23, 2008: ATS makes first arrests in the case. Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and three others arrested. ATS claims the blast was carried out by right wing extremists.
November 2008: Lt Col Prasad Purohit arrested by ATS for his alleged involvement in the conspiracy of the blast.
January 20, 2009: ATS files charge-sheet against 11 arrested accused, including Pragya Thakur and Purohit before special court. Accused are charged under the stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Wanted accused: Ramji alias Ramchandra Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange are shown as wanted accused.
July 2009: Special court says provisions of MCOCA are not applicable in the case and the accused shall be tried by a court in Nashik.
August 2009: Maharashtra government moves Bombay High Court in appeal against special court order.
July 2010: Bombay High Court overturns special court order and upholds the charges under MCOCA.
August 2010: Purohit and Pragya Singh Thakur move Supreme Court against HC order.
February 1, 2011: ATS Mumbai arrests another person — Pravin Mutalik. A total of 12 persons arrested by then.
April 13, 2011: National Investigation Agency (NIA) takes over the case.
February and December 2012: NIA arrests two more persons - Lokesh Sharma and Dhan Singh Chaudhary. Total arrests 14 by then.
April 2015: Supreme Court sends back case to special court for reconsideration of applicability of MCOCA.
February 2016: NIA tells special court that it has taken the Attorney General's opinion on whether provisions of MCOCA can be applied in the case.
May 13, 2016: NIA files charge-sheet before special court. Drops MCOCA charges from the case. Gives clean chit to seven accused.
April 25, 2017: Bombay High court grants bail to Pragya Thakur. HC refuses bail to Purohit.
September 21, 2017: Purohit gets bail from the Supreme Court. By the end of the year, all arrested accused out on bail.
December 27, 2017: Special NIA court discharges accused Shivnarayan Kalsangra, Shyam Sahu and Praveen Mutalik Naik from the case. Court also drops charges related to being members of a terrorist organisation and raising funds for terrorist acts under the UAPA.
October 30, 2018: Charges framed against seven accused — Thakur, Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. They face trial under UAPA for committing a terrorist act, and under IPC for criminal conspiracy and murder.
December 3, 2018: Trial begins with the examination of first witness in the case.
September 14, 2023: After examining 323 prosecution witnesses (of which 37 turned hostile), prosecution decides to close its evidence.
July 23 ,2024: Examination of defence witnesses (eight) completed.
August 12, 2024: Special court records final statements of accused under section 313 of Criminal Procedure Code. Matter posted for final arguments of prosecution and defence.
April 19, 2025: Special court closes trial for judgment.
July 31, 2025: Special NIA Judge A K Lahoti acquits all seven accused, including Thakur and Purohit, noting there was no "cogent and reliable" evidence to warrant conviction. Court says the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
- 31 July 2025 12:07 PM IST
Sadhvi Pragya says "her whole life is ruined', claims ‘Bhagwa and Hindutva have won’
Speaking after her acquittal, Sadhvi Pragya Singh alleged that she was falsely implicated, arrested, and tortured without any legitimate basis.
She claimed her whole life has been ruined and described her false implication as a conspiracy to defame “Bhagwa” and Hindutva.
Declaring that “Bhagwa has won,” she said those responsible for the alleged conspiracy will be punished by God, even if not by the court.
