The verdict in the Malegaon bomb blast case was delivered today after 17 years. On September 29, 2008, the explosion near a mosque during the month of Ramadan shook the city of Malegaon. Six people were killed in this attack, and more than 100 citizens were injured.
Explosives hidden in an LML Freedom motorcycle suddenly exploded in the Hamida Road area. At that time, people were coming out after completing prayers in the mosque. Initially, the investigation of this case was conducted by Maharashtra ATS. Later, in 2011, the investigation was handed over to the NIA. Due to applications filed by the accused in various courts, investigation errors, and delays in judicial proceedings, this case remained pending for a full 17 years. In 2018, the NIA court ordered a trial against seven accused.
In the Malegaon blast case, a trial was conducted against former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi alias Swami Amritanand, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni under IPC sections related to murder, Explosives Act, Arms Act, Anti-Terrorism Act, and UAPA. Meanwhile, the accused Shyam Sahu, Praveen Kalki, Ramji Kalsangra, and Sandeep Dange were absconding.
Against this backdrop, all the accused have now been acquitted. Tight security was deployed in the court premises. After 17 years, the verdict of this case was delivered today in the special NIA court in Mumbai. Accused cannot be convicted solely on the basis of suspicion. Therefore, all the accused are being acquitted, as stated by the court. Charges were filed against seven individuals, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Colonel Prasad Purohit, and Major Ramesh Upadhyay. The verdict was read by Judge A. K. Lahoti. Everyone was focused on the outcome of this bomb blast case.