Where is Lt Col Purohit after fighting Malegaon blast taint for 17 years?

India Today

21 hours ago

When Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit donned the Army uniform over three decades ago to serve the nation. He could hardly have imagined finding himself accused in a terrorism case, least of all one tied to a bomb blast that killed six people in his home state, Maharashtra. Today, acquitted of all charges in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, Purohit stands vindicated after a 17-year ordeal. But where is the soldier who fought a case that almost destroyed his life?advertisementReleased on bail by the Supreme Court in 2017, he has since continued his service in the Indian Army, and is currently with the Military Intelligence wing, a source, requesting anonymity, told India Today Digital.Following his acquittal on July 31, an emotional Purohit addressed the NIA court and said, "I am a soldier who loves this country unconditionally... The country is always supreme, its foundation must be strong."
The Malegaon blast was projected as a case of "Hindu terror" and "saffron terror" by UPA-era politicians and officials.Describing his harrowing experience, Purohit said, "I am a victim of mentally ill people."The Maharashtra ATS had claimed that the RDX used for the blast in Malegaon was procured from Kashmir by Lt Col Purohit and stored at his residence, thus making him one of the central figures of the investigation.The NIA court on July 31 acquitted Lt Col Purohit of all charges.PUROHIT LOST RANKS, REMAINED A LIEUTENANT COLONELPurohit's journey in the military started in 1994 when he was commissioned into the Maratha Light Infantry after passing out of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai. He served in counter-terrorism operations in Jammu & Kashmir from 2002 to 2005, according to a report in The Indian Express.Later, he was posted to the Military Intelligence wing in Nashik, a source told India Today Digital.Lt Col Purohit's arrest in the Malegaon blast case marked the first time a serving Army officer was implicated in a terrorism-related case in India.Even during his nine-year incarceration, Purohit was "always in service"."He was always in service. But since he was in jail, he couldn't serve," said Smita Mishra, author of 'Lt Colonel Purohit: The Man Betrayed?', in a conversation with India Today Digital."I am not clear about the Indian Army's technicalities, but I know that he was never relieved of his service," she added.Mishra clarified that Purohit's intelligence operations were "with complete sanction of his seniors", who were "completely kept in the loop" about his intelligence-gathering activities."The Army is totally with him," Mishra affirmed, without revealing details of his current role, stating, "It might compromise his and his family's security."advertisementNotably, in 2017, Brigadier Raj Kumar (retired), a nodal officer of the Army enquiry into the Malegaon blast case, said that the Army enquiry did not find any evidence that Purohit had supplied RDX for the blast. However, Purohit couldn't explain the possession of two illegal weapons at his residence."Obviously, he lost promotions. Otherwise, he wouldn't be a Lieutenant Colonel now," said Mishra, describing Purohit as "one of the brightest officers of his generation" and "one of the finest intelligence officers we have in the country".LT COL PUROHIT: FROM STUDYING ARABIC TO BEING TORTUREDWhile studying Arabic at the Army Education Centre in Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh, during a break from his Nashik posting, Lt Col Purohit was picked up with what he says was a forged movement order.He was told he was being taken to Delhi, but was instead taken to Mumbai and kept in illegal detention for a few days before his formal arrest in November 2008, according to Mishra.The hardships after his arrest were both physical and mental.An Army officer who was taking lectures and training sessions for juniors was suddenly reduced to a terrorist.advertisement"A man in uniform was being tortured by men in uniform," said Mishra, referring to the harsh treatment that Lt Col Purohit faced at the hands of Maharashtra ATS personnel."The physical torture that he faced, left him with physical injuries as well as scars in his mind," Mishra told India Today Digital.A WIFE'S RELENTLESS FIGHT FOR HER HUSBAND'S ACQUITTALThe case took a toll on Purohit's personal life. Married with two sons, his family faced intense social stigma."From a well-known patriotic family of Pune, his family suddenly became the family of a terrorist," Mishra said.But his wife fought relentlessly for his acquittal, working closely with the legal team to the point where "she almost became a lawyer in the process", Mishra said."She worked on the cases... Because there were not too many people coming forward at that time, the political situation was such, he became a pariah suddenly."The couple's children, particularly the younger son who was "just a toddler" during Purohit's arrest, grew up in the absence of their father, and facing ostracism."They were stigmatised in their schools and in society as children of a terrorist," Mishra said. The elder son later contributed to the legal efforts as he grew older.advertisementPUROHIT'S INTELLIGENCE WORK ON JIHADI NETWORKS, MAOISTSMishra asserted that Purohit's implication in the Malegaon blasts was a "political conspiracy" to derail his intelligence work."He had penetrated very deep into this jihadi network, the SIMI, the Indian Mujahideen, and all their offshoots," including their "nexus with the Maoists" and "some relations of this terror network with some powers in the establishment then", she added.The source, who spoke anonymously, said Purohit was targeted "because he knew too much".They tried to "get him out of the way" and "make him the face of Hindu terror", a narrative she claims was orchestrated "at the highest level of the political leadership of that time".Mishra clarified that Purohit's intelligence operations were "with complete sanction of his seniors", who were "completely kept in the loop".He did not operate as part of a group with other accused, such as Pragya Thakur, whom he came to know only when the case was [filed]. "He just knew them," Mishra said, emphasising that he was not part of any organised team or gang.Now acquitted, Purohit continues to serve in military intelligence, with the Army's full support.advertisementDespite the physical and psychological scars, Purohit's dedication to the nation remains steadfast, as he continues his service under the weight of a hard-fought acquittal, said the source.- Ends