Latest news with #PrasadPurohit
Scroll.in
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Malegaon blasts: After acquittal, Prasad Purohit welcomed with flower petals, ‘Jai Shri Ram' chants
Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, one of the seven persons acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts case last week, was on Sunday given a grand welcome by family members and supporters when he returned home in Pune. At the Shantisheela Housing Society on the city's Law College Road, Purohit was welcomed with a procession, in which traditional drums were beaten and flower petals were showered on him, PTI reported. Bharatiya Janata Party member and Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni was among those who attended the event. Those who participated in the procession shouted 'Jai Shree Ram' and 'Sanatan Dharm Ki Jai' to celebrate Purohit's acquittal. Purohit was on bail in the case since August 2017 after having spent nearly nine years in jail. He has been posted at an Army formation in Mumbai since he got bail, according to The Indian Express. He visited his Pune home for the first time on Sunday after his acquittal on July 31. #WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: Society members and friends of Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit felicitate him, as they welcome him home. NIA Court acquitted all accused, including him, in 2008 Malegaon blast case. — ANI (@ANI) August 3, 2025 Apart from Purohit, the others who were acquitted in the case were Pragya Singh Thakur, Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. Thakur went on to become a BJP MP from Bhopal between 2019 and 2024. Six persons were killed and around 100 were injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon in northern Maharashtra on September 29, 2008. At the event on Sunday, Purohit said that not even an enemy could question his 'loyalty towards the nation', the Hindustan Times reported. 'During my submission [in court], I insisted that I be called anything but not aatankwadi [terrorist] or deshdrohi [traitor],' he said. Charges unproven but not baseless: NIA court The special National Investigation Agency court that acquitted the persons accused in the Malegaon blast case on July 31 remarked in its verdict that although the prosecution could not prove its charges against Purohit, it could not be said that the allegations against him were ' baseless or without foundation ', Live Law reported. The court rejected his argument that the prosecution should have sought prior sanction under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Special Judge AK Lahoti did not accept the contention that he had been collecting information from Hindutva organisations like Abhinav Bharat as part of his official duty. The court said that Purohit was one of the founding members of Abhinav Bharat and was an active member of it, Live Law reported. There was no evidence to show that Purohit's superior authority had given him permission to join the Abhinav Bharat trust or to collect funds for it, the court said. 'As per the ethos of the military intelligence, the commanding officer or Discipline & Vigilance Branch used to protect the interest of officers and sources,' the judge noted, according to Live Law. 'But after the arrest of Purohit, no any steps were taken to protect their officer. If he would have really discharged the duty under the colour of his office, there would have been protection to him.' The court said that Purohit had only been allowed to 'mix up' with certain organisations to collect information about them, but there was no evidence to show that he had been allowed to join any group. The lieutenant colonel had claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case, and that he had been working as an intelligence officer seeking to monitor extremist groups.
Hindustan Times
04-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Acquitted in Malegaon case, Lt Col Purohit receives a hero's welcome
Jubilant scenes unfolded at Shantisheela Housing Society on Law College Road on Saturday as Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit returned home for the first time after being acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, on July 31, acquitted all seven remaining accused, including Purohit, of all charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act, and other relevant laws, bringing to an end a legal battle that spanned nearly 17 years. Not even an enemy can question my patriotism and loyalty towards the nation Purohit said. (HT) Purohit, a serving Indian Army officer, was accorded a celebratory welcome with chants of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' and a shower of flower petals. He was visibly moved by the warm reception. 'I am in a different state of mind. Today, I'm being welcomed by my own people. It's a family affair. This society is like family to me. They've seen me since childhood. I am happy and enjoying the moment,' he told reporters. Not even an enemy can question my patriotism and loyalty towards the nation Purohit said. 'As a soldier, what I can say with conviction is that not even an enemy can question my patriotism and loyalty towards the nation. During my submission (in court), I insisted that I be called anything but not aatankwadi (terrorist) or deshdrohi (traitor),' he said. Accompanied by his wife Aparna, the officer first offered prayers at a Hanuman temple located within the housing society. Residents, many of whom have known Purohit for decades, gathered in large numbers to greet him. Drummers dressed in white and saffron played festive rhythms, firecrackers were set off, and Purohit greeted supporters from an open-roof vehicle. Aparna Purohit, overwhelmed by the emotional welcome, recalled the challenges of the past years. 'This journey has been extremely difficult, but the truth has finally triumphed. Many in this colony have seen him since birth. I'm relieved this is over. We just want to live a normal life now. Truth is the ultimate source of power. I always believed he had done nothing wrong. We were determined to fight injustice to the end,' she said. A college friend of Purohit, part of the welcoming committee, said, 'He has finally received justice after 17 years. He returns home not as an accused, but as an innocent man. That is why we felt this welcome was necessary.' The 2008 Malegaon blast occurred on September 29, when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque at Bhikkhu Chowk in Malegaon, Nashik district, killing six people and injuring 95 others. The case, initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and later handed over to the NIA, had a total of 11 accused. Purohit, who was arrested in November 2008, spent nearly nine years in jail before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in 2017. Over the years, the case became politically and socially charged due to the alleged involvement of individuals linked to right-wing groups, leading to a contentious national debate. The NIA court's verdict came after examining 323 prosecution witnesses and eight defence witnesses. In its ruling, the court noted that there was insufficient evidence to prove the charges under UAPA and other sections against the remaining accused. Purohit's legal team has maintained that he was falsely implicated despite being an Army intelligence officer working to infiltrate and monitor extremist groups. His acquittal has been met with celebration in some quarters, while others have questioned the outcome, calling for a review of the investigation and judicial process.
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Won't tolerate being branded a ‘terrorist' or my patriotism questioned: Lt Col Purohit
Pune: On his return to his home off Law College Road in Pune on Sunday, after he was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, Lt Col Prasad Purohit said that he will no longer tolerate being branded a 'terrorist' or his patriotism being questioned. "Even my enemies would not doubt my patriotism and commitment to my nation. As an army officer, nothing is more important to me than my country. I will not stand for anyone labelling me a terrorist or a 'Rashtra Drohi' (anti-national)," he said. Purohit was welcomed by relatives, friends and well-wishers in the presence of actor and former MP Nitish Bharadwaj and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune On the years he spent in prison before being released on bail in Aug 2017, Purohit said, "Whatever I suffered was something I could endure. I chose not to talk about it, and I still won't. Many have sacrificed their lives for this country, so my suffering is nothing in comparison." On the legal battle, Purohit said, "It was an incredibly tough and difficult time, but I assured my wife and mother that I did nothing against the country. At times, it was a traumatic experience to the extent that I felt I had lost everything." Bharadwaj said, "It's a big day for us. He is my close friend, and I have to come to welcome him." Purohit's classmate Yogesh Purandare said, "I can't express my happiness in words. The presence of this large group is testament to his work." Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Won't let my patriotism be questioned: Purohit
Pune: On his return to his home off Law College Road in Pune on Sunday, after he was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, Lt Col Prasad Purohit said that he will no longer tolerate being branded a 'terrorist' or his patriotism being questioned. "Even my enemies would not doubt my patriotism and commitment to my nation. As an army officer, nothing is more important to me than my country. I will not stand for anyone labelling me a terrorist or a 'Rashtra Drohi' (anti-national)," he said. Purohit was welcomed by relatives, friends and well-wishers in the presence of actor and former MP Nitish Bharadwaj and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni. On the years he spent in prison before being released on bail in Aug 2017, Purohit said, "Whatever I suffered was something I could endure. I chose not to talk about it, and I still won't. Many have sacrificed their lives for this country, so my suffering is nothing in comparison. " You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On the legal battle, Purohit said, "It was an incredibly tough and difficult time, but I assured my wife and mother that I did nothing against the country. At times, it was a traumatic experience to the extent that I felt I had lost everything." Bharadwaj said, "It's a big day for us. He is my close friend, and I have to come to welcome him." —Sandip Dighe Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
An unravelling: On the Malegaon acquittals
The 2008 Malegaon blast, killing six and injuring 95 others, during Ramzan, was an extreme act of terror. The initial investigation by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) posited a chilling conspiracy by Hindutva extremists to exact revenge through a 'blast for a blast', emulating the polarising methods of Islamist terror groups. This narrative seemed solidified by circumstantial evidence, including electronic transcripts of secret meetings and a confession by Sangh Parivar activist Aseemanand. The case was politically fraught from the start. The ATS investigation was a pivotal moment, as it sought to identify perpetrators irrespective of religion, especially after Muslim youth were wrongly charged and later acquitted in the 2006 Malegaon blasts. However, this unbiased approach appeared to falter with the consolidation of Hindutva political power. After the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the agency filed a supplementary charge sheet. Amid allegations that the NIA was under pressure to be lenient, a Special Court rightly ruled in 2018 that a full trial was the best course. Seventeen years later, the final acquittal of all accused, including Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit and Pragya Singh Thakur, leaves a profound sense of unease. Far from refuting the existence of Hindutva-led extremism, the judgment is an indictment of the prosecution's methods and a reminder of how justice can be undone. The court exposed a foundation of unreliable evidence, noting that key witnesses turned hostile, alleging coercion by the ATS — a claim also noted by the NIA. The explosive electronic transcripts were deemed inadmissible for failing to meet mandatory legal safeguards against tampering. The court also rejected the defence of Purohit, who argued that he was a military intelligence officer infiltrating the group, but acquitted him as the evidence failed to meet what it saw as the legal standard for a conviction. The political circumstances suggest a consistent attempt to reframe the alleged acts of terror not as criminal, but with a communal narrative. In 2019, while still under trial for grave terror charges, Pragya Thakur was fielded as a parliamentary candidate by the Bharatiya Janata Party and won from Bhopal. Her political elevation as a Hindutva icon was precisely because of her purported role in fomenting retaliatory attacks against Muslims. Her subsequent career, marked by an endorsement of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, Nathuram Godse, has only confirmed the dangerous mainstreaming of extremist voices. The acquittal lays bare the unsettling reality that when state agencies fail, extremist organisations can get away with heinous crimes. Terror has no single religious face and, without a competent and scrupulous policing, prosecution and justice system, its perpetrators, whoever they may be, can walk free.
