Latest news with #ShrikantPrasadPurohit
India Today
31-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
All 7 Malegaon blast accused acquitted, BJP remands Congress' apology
This episode of India First examines the acquittal of all seven accused, including Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, citing lack of evidence by investigative agencies. The discussion highlights the political controversy over the 'Saffron Terror' narrative, with BJP demanding an apology from Congress, and features an interview with former MHA undersecretary RVS Mani, who alleges deliberate efforts to replace the Islamic terror narrative with a Hindu terror narrative. The origins of the term are explored, referencing the 26/11 Mumbai attacks and Samjhauta Express blast, alongside claims of investigative lapses by NIA and ATS, including allegations of deliberate delays. Additionally, the show delves into diplomatic tensions between India and the US over a 25% tariff imposed by the US President, and Rahul Gandhi's comments agreeing with Donald Trump's critical assessment of India's economy, sparking political debate and analysis of India's economic growth trajectory.
News18
31-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'No One Should Be Framed Like This': Lt Col Purohit After Acquittal In Malegaon Blast Case
Last Updated: Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit, acquitted in the Malegaon blast case, alleged misuse of power by the Congress-led UPA. Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit, who was among those acquitted in the Malegaon blast case, on Thursday alleged that he was wrongly framed by people who are in power, apparently referring to the Congress-led UPA regime. In an interview with CNN-News18, Purohit said no one should go through an ordeal like his after years of trial. 'When the wrong people are in power, they misuse it. Because of that misuse, entire institutions get tarnished. The institutions themselves are not bad. I am talking about investigating agencies — wrong people were in charge, and they misused their power," he said. Purohit, who was reinstated in the Army pending trial, said the truth has finally come out. 'I am very happy today. No one should have to go through an ordeal like this. No one should be framed like this. This weakens our own country. We are a fantastic nation, a fantastic democracy. Since the very first day, we were saying the same thing. We never changed our stand. I had given the truth in writing on 24th November 2008 — and that is exactly what has come out today," he added. A special court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including Purohit and former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, nearly 17 years after a blast in Malegaon town of north Maharashtra claimed six lives. The court noted that there was 'no reliable and cogent evidence" against them. Terrorism has no religion, the court said, adding it cannot convict on mere perception. An explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon town, located about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008, killing six people and injuring 101 others. Purohit had allegedly sourced RDX from Jammu and Kashmir and assembled the bomb at his residence, Hindustan Times reported. However, the NIA court said there is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence. 'No sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer while doing the panchnama. No fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot. The samples were contaminated, so the reports can't be conclusive and are not reliable. The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number. Prosecution could not prove that it was in Sadhvi Pragya's possession immediately before the blast," the Court said. view comments 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.
Saudi Gazette
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
India court acquits seven accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case
DELHI — A court in India has acquitted all seven accused in a deadly bombing that struck a Muslim-majority town in Maharashtra state nearly 17 years ago. At least six people were killed and nearly a hundred injured in the blasts that hit Malegaon in September 2008. Among the seven acquitted are Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a former MP of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and a serviceman, Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit. According to legal portal Live Law, the judge noted that the prosecution failed to prove the motorbike that allegedly triggered the blasts belonged to Thakur. The court also observed that while the prosecution had proven a bomb blast did occur, it failed to establish that the explosive was planted on the motorbike. Regarding Purohit - who was accused of raising funds to purchase explosives for a right-wing outfit and organising meetings to plan the attack - the court said there was "no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives at Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence," according to the verdict cited by news agency special court in Mumbai cleared the accused of all charges, including under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act - an anti-terror law."Terrorism has no religion because no religion can advocate violence. The court cannot convict anyone merely on perception and moral evidence; there has to be cogent evidence," ANI reported, quoting the of the victims' families said they will challenge the acquittal in the High Court and file an appeal case was initially handled by Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being transferred to India's premier counter-terror agency, the National Investigation Agency (NIA), in politically important case was one of the first major instances where right-wing Hindu nationalist groups were directly accused of militant the years, the case saw several twists and turns. More than 300 witnesses were examined during the trial, with at least 34 later turning 2016, NIA filed a chargesheet and said they could not find sufficient evidence against Thakur and three others. It recommended dropping charges against the court acquitted the three, it ordered that Thakur must still stand 2018, an NIA special court formally framed charges against the remaining seven accused under the anti-terror law, charges of criminal conspiracy, murder and promoting enmity between religious verdict, initially expected in May, was postponed after the judge ordered all accused to be present in court. — BBC
Mint
31-07-2025
- Mint
Malegaon blast case: NIA court acquits all seven accused, including Pragya Singh Thakur
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court acquitted all the seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case on Thursday. The case pertains to the explosion that took place in Malegaon, Nashik on September 29, 2008. The trial in the case, which started in 2018, got over on April 19, 2025, and the case was reserved for judgement. Announcing the verdict on Thursday, the NIA court said the prosecution proved that a blast occurred in Malegaon, but failed to prove that a bomb was placed in a motorcycle. Moreover, the court observed that the "prosecution failed to prove that the bike on which the bomb was allegedly strapped belonged to Sadhvi Pragya," according to the Bar and Bench. The court acquited the seven accused, reportedly saying: There is no evidence of storing or assembling the explosives in Shrikant Prasad Purohit's residence. No sketch of the spot was done by the investigation officer while doing the panchnama. No fingerprint, dump data or anything else was collected for the spot. The samples were contaminated, so the reports can't be conclusive and are not reliable. The bike allegedly involved in the blast did not have a clear chassis number. The court also concluded that the injured people were not 101 but 95 only, and there was manipulation in some medical certificates. The seven accused included: BJP leader and former MP Pragya Thakur Lt Col Prasad Purohit Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay Ajay Rahirkar Sudhakar Dwivedi Sudhakar Chaturvedi Sameer Kulkarni These accused were acquitted by the special NIA court after almost 17 years after the blast ripped throguh Maharashtra's communally sensitive Malegaon town. According to PTI, as many as six persons were killed and more than 100 were left injured. It was reported that 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 blast took place during the holy month of Ramzan, just before the Navratri festival, the NIA had pointed out, claiming the intention of the accused was to strike terror in a section of the Muslim community. The court had framed charges against the seven accused. 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).
Hindustan Times
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Malegaon blast case: NIA court reserves verdict for May 8
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has reserved the verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case for May 8. On April 19, the prosecution filed its final written arguments, with some citation marking the end of hearing in the case, PTI reported. At least six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008. According to the report, during the trial, the prosecution examined 323 prosecution witnesses, of whom 34 had turned hostile. Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Prasad Purohit, BJP leader Pragya Thakur- Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are facing trial under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). ALSO READ: Malegaon bomb blast victims seek death penalty for accused The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad (ATS) before being transferred to NIA in 2011. The NIA, after taking over the case, had filed a chargesheet in 2016 giving a clean chit to Thakur and three other accused- Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takalki and Shivnarayan Kalsangra, saying it found no evidence against them and they should be discharged from the case. ALSO READ: SIMI orchestrated the 2008 Malegaon blast: Pragya Singh's lawyer The NIA court had absolved Sahu, Kalsangra and Takalki, ruling that Thakur will have to face trial. On October 30, 2018, the special court framed charges against seven accused under the stringent UAPA and IPC. They are facing trial under sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of the UAPA and under IPC sections 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153 (a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups). Recording of the testimony of the prosecution witness was completed in September last year. (With PTI inputs)
