Seventeen years after a deadly explosion struck Malegaon in Maharashtra, a special court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, citing a lack of evidence.
Special Judge AK Lahoti, delivering the verdict, remarked that mere suspicion was insufficient to secure a conviction and noted that the prosecution had failed to prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
“There has been a grave incident against society. But the court cannot convict just on moral grounds,” Judge Lahoti observed while reading out the judgment.
The court held that there was no conclusive proof that Pragya Singh Thakur owned the LML Freedom motorcycle used in the blast or that Col Purohit had made the bomb.
Six people were killed and over 100 were injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorbike detonated in Malegaon, a town with a significant Muslim population, on 29 September 2008 during the holy month of Ramzan.
The case, which came to be known as the Malegaon blast case, had drawn widespread political and public attention over the years.
Court's Quotes From The Hearing Today
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“There is not an iota of evidence against Pragya Singh Thakur. She was not part of any conspiracy, nor was she present when the explosive was planted.”
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“The bike used in the blast was registered in her name, but there is no evidence she was using it. Mere ownership does not establish involvement.”
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“The prosecution has failed to establish that she provided any support or assistance in the execution of the offence.”
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“She was in prison for nine years without sufficient evidence, and this amounts to a serious miscarriage of justice.”
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“The NIA, in its supplementary charge sheet, failed to present fresh or convincing evidence to establish her role.”
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“Pragya Singh Thakur’s statements, including those that are politically controversial, cannot be used to implicate her retrospectively in a conspiracy.”
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“Confessional statements under MCOCA are not admissible as the sole basis for conviction unless corroborated by other material evidence.”
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“The court is duty-bound to ensure that the principle of ‘innocent until proven guilty’ is not diluted, especially in cases driven by political narratives.”
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“An accused cannot be punished merely because he or she belongs to a particular ideology. The rule of law must prevail over political perception.”
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“The delay in recording statements, procedural lapses, and contradictions in prosecution witnesses raise serious doubts about the credibility of the case.”
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“It is clear that the investigation was not conducted in a fair and impartial manner, which casts a shadow over the entire prosecution case.”
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