10 Years Of Probe, 7 In Trial, 17 For Verdict: A Timeline Of The 2008 Malegaon Blast Case
The trial, which started in 2018, got over on April 19, 2025, with the verdict set to be delivered today 17 years after the incident took place in September 2008
Seventeen years after a blast rocked Maharashtra's communally sensitive Malegaon, an NIA court is likely to deliver its verdict in the highly polarising case – complete with its own set of twists and turns – on Thursday.
Six persons were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in the town, located about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008.
The trial, which started in 2018, got over on April 19, 2025, and the case was reserved for judgement. The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being transferred to the NIA in 2011.
Seven accused, including BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, faced trial in the case for offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, and the Indian Penal Code.
Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are the other accused.
2008-2009: THE BIG TWIST
The Maharashtra ATS, led by Hemant Karkare, takes over the investigation and, for the first time in India, it is alleged that the blast was carried out by individuals linked to Hindu right-wing groups.
October 2008: Now a BJP leader, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Shrikant Purohit of the Indian Army are arrested. The two are alleged to have links to Abhinav Bharat, a Hindu right-wing group, and suspected of carrying out a 'revenge attack" on the Muslim community.
November 2008: Evidence, including the motorcycle used in the blast allegedly owned by Thakur, is recovered. Chief investigator and special IGP Hemant Karkare is martyred in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack.
2009-2011: THE POLITICS OF IT
The ATS widens its net and makes more arrests, including other right-wing activists like Dayanand Pandey, Sameer Kulkarni, and Ajay Rahirkar. But there is massive political backlash as Hindutva outfits accuse the probe of being politically motivated.
January 2009: The ATS files its first chargesheet naming 11 accused and three wanted persons, with Thakur and Lt Col Purohit as key conspirators. Charges include provisions of the UAPA, IPC, and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
July 31, 2009: MCOCA charges are dropped by a special court citing lack of evidence related to other cases against the accused.
July 19, 2010: The Bombay High Court reinstates MCOCA charges.
April 13, 2011: The case is transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
2016-2017: NIA ALLEGATIONS, KEY ACCUSED GRANTED BAIL
In a significant development, the NIA drops MCOCA charges from its supplementary chargesheet and accuses the ATS of planting evidence and forced confessions. In 2017, the key accused in the case – Thakur and Lt Col Purohit – are granted bail.
May 13, 2016: The NIA files a supplementary chargesheet, dropping MCOCA charges stating that the application of the law by the ATS is questionable. It alleges that the ATS planted evidence and used coercive tactics during questioning.
April 25, 2017: The Bombay High Court grants bail to Thakur on health grounds.
August 21, 2017: The Supreme Court grants bail to Lt Col Purohit after nine years in jail.
December 27, 2017: MCOCA charges are dropped but a special court refuses to discharge Thakur and six other accused, ordering them to face trial under the UAPA, IPC, and the Explosive Substances Act.
2018 TO PRESENT: TRIAL & VERDICT
The trial in the case began 10 years after the tragic incident with the verdict now set to be delivered 17 years later.
October 30, 2018: Charges are framed against seven accused, including Thakur and Lt Col Purohit.
December 2018: Trial formally begins.
September 2023: Prosecution closes its evidence, having examined 323 witnesses with 37 turning hostile.
April 19, 2025: Final arguments conclude, and the court reserves its judgment.
July 31, 2025: Verdict awaited.
About the Author
News Desk
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d...Read More
Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
tags :
2008 Malegaon Blast
view comments
Location :
Mumbai, India, India
First Published:
July 31, 2025, 01:48 IST
News india 10 Years Of Probe, 7 In Trial, 17 For Verdict: A Timeline Of The 2008 Malegaon Blast Case
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
29 minutes ago
- NDTV
"Has His Reasons": Shashi Tharoor On Rahul Gandhi's "Dead Economy" Remark
Mumbai: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday refused to comment on party leader Rahul Gandhi's endorsing US President Donald Trump's 'dead economy' remark about India and said the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha may have had his "own reasons" for saying so. The remarks came after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday agreed with US President Donald Trump's statement that the Indian economy is "dead" and said he is "glad" that the US President has stated a fact. Speaking to the mediapersons, Tharoor said, "I don't want to comment on what my party leader has said. He has his reasons for saying so. My concern is that our relationship with the US, as a strategic and economic partnership, is important for us. We are exporting around 90 billion worth of goods to America. We can't be in a position to lose that or have it diminish significantly." "We must wish our negotiators strength to get a fair deal for India. We should also be talking to other regions for exporting our goods. Then we could make up for some of what we might lose in the US. We have to support our negotiators," he added. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday agreed with US President Donald Trump's statement that the Indian economy is "dead" and said he is "glad" that the US President has stated a fact. Speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi said that the whole world knows the Indian economy is "dead" except for the Prime Minister and Finance Minister. "Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. Everybody knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. I am glad that President Trump has stated a fact. The entire world knows that the Indian economy is a dead economy. BJP has finished the economy to help Adani," Rahul Gandhi said. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump made a shocking statement on his social media platform Truth Social after the announcement of 25 percent tariffs against India and threatened an additional "penalty" for importing Russian oil.
The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
CM mourns loss of M.K. Sanoo
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condoled the death of critic and orator M.K. Sanoo who passed away in Kochi on Saturday. Recalling Sanoo's contributions to Kerala society and history through his activities, discourses, and writings, Mr. Vijayan said his demise was an irreparable loss, particularly to the progressive movement. His was a quiet but forceful voice in the socio-cultural milieu. He was an excellent teacher, orator, public activist, social worker, writer, and literary critic and in step with the State's progressive achievement. His four-year term as an MLA was noteworthy. He was always eager to hear the problems of the people directly and bring them to the attention of Minister and officials, the Chief Minister said. Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, in his condolence message, said Prof. Sanoo was a multi-faceted personality – literary critic, biographer, orator, and a teacher. He left his imprint not only on literary criticism but also the area of Malayalam biographies. Recalling Sanoo's biographies of Changampuzha, Basheer, and P.K. Balakrishnan, Mr. Satheesan praised his writing and oratorial skills. Communist Party of India State unit secretary Binoy Viswam said Sanoo led a full life as a writer, literary critic, orator, and teacher. He had left a lasting imprint on Malayalam literature and on society. He was a Left fellow-traveller and gained recognition as a legislator too. He was full of empathy and interacted with all sections of society. Expressing his grief, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State secretary M.V. Govindan said Kerala had lost a multi-faceted personality. Sanoo always took care to uphold Left principles and reformist thinking. He was a leading light who endeared himself to the people through his work and progressive thinking. Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said Sanoo was a shining star of Malayalam criticism who had left a void that could not be filled. He enriched Malayalam literature with a few select books. As a legislator, he participated in all events without political considerations. Sree Narayana Guru's philosophy was the essence of his thinking. Paying tributes to Sanoo, Bharatiya Janata Party State (BJP) president Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in a message that Sanoo's demise was indeed a loss to the Malayalam literary tradition and cultural sphere. His contributions as a teacher, legislator, writer, thinker, and orator were immense. BJP leader K. Surendran said the State had lost a great literary critic in Sanoo. His scholarship of Sree Narayana Guru's philosophy was very deep. As a legislator, he functioned without considerations for political affiliations. He maintained good ties with the BJP.
Time of India
42 minutes ago
- Time of India
HC sets aside RDO's order restoring tribal land to non-tribal parties
Kochi: The high court has set aside the orders issued by the Ottappalam RDO and Palakkad district collector in 2010, which had wrongfully restored possession of around 12 acres of tribal land at Kottathara village in Agali, Palakkad, to non-tribal parties. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Justice Harisankar V Menon delivered the judgment on Wednesday in a petition filed by Rangan of Kottathara and his three brothers, challenging the RDO's orders and the collector restoring possession of the tribal land to non-tribal parties. The petitioners contended that their father, Chathamooppan, had made an application under the Kerala Scheduled Tribes (Restriction on Transfer of Lands and Restoration of Alienated Lands) Act, 1975, stating that he had originally possessed around 12 acres in Kottathara, which had been transferred to certain non-tribal parties between 1964 and 1990 under the guise of various sale deeds. In 1995, the Ottappalam RDO, acting on the application, issued an order directing the non-tribal parties to deliver possession of the land to Chathamooppan and his brother within 30 days and further directed the applicants to pay compensation under the Act. However, in Dec 2010, the Ottappalam RDO, acting suo motu and without notice to the petitioners, sons of the deceased Chathamooppan, reviewed the 1995 order and restored possession of the land to the non-tribal parties under Section 5(1) of the Kerala Restriction on Transfer by and Restoration of Lands to Scheduled Tribes Act, 1999, which permits the transfer of up to 2 acres of tribal land to non-tribal parties. The district collector upheld the RDO's order, prompting the petitioners to move HC. Upon perusal of the records, the bench held that the proceedings regarding the land in question under the 1975 Act had attained finality with the 1995 order of the RDO, as no one had challenged the same later. Further, the 1999 Act does not contain any provision authorising the RDO to review an order passed under the 1975 Act. Accordingly, the bench set aside the 2010 orders of the RDO and the collector. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Similarly, T V Krishnan of Agali, who is also a party respondent in Rangan's petition, filed a separate petition alleging that he had been interdicted by the police from cutting and removing timber from his property, based on a complaint filed by one Murugan of Agali. However, the court noted that Krishnan had failed to disclose that he was a party respondent in Rangan's petition. The court further directed the revenue authorities to verify whether the property referred to in Krishnan's petition is the same as that involved in Rangan's petition and to take appropriate action accordingly.
