NIA Court acquits all accused in Malegaon blast case

The NIA Court, Mumbai has acquitted all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt. Colonel Purohit and others. The blast occurred on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City, Nashik, resulting in the deaths of six people and injuries to several others. Special Judge AK Lahoti said mere suspicion cannot take the case forward and asserted that the prosecution failed to establish the allegations against the accused beyond reasonable doubt. "There has been a grave incident against society. But the court cannot convict just on moral grounds," the judge said.

#WATCH | NIA Court acquits all accused in Malegaon blast case, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Colonel Purohit and others. Accused acquitted of all charges of UAPA, Arms Act and other charges.

(Visuals from outside the Court) pic.twitter.com/wF9CoZrYJx

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The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before being transferred to the NIA in 2011. The NIA alleged that the blast was part of a conspiracy involving the group Abhinav Bharat. As per the investigation done by the Maharashtra ATS version, former BJP MP Pragya Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, the founder of Abhinav Bharat, a right wing organisation, and the other accused hatched a conspiracy to take 'revenge' and 'terrorise' the Muslim community. Several 'conspiracy meetings' allegedly took place in Bhopal, Indore and other places ahead of the blast. According to the ATS, Thakur had provided a motorcycle, which was used for executing the blast. The said motorcycle, the ATS added, was registered in Thakur's name.The ATS made its first arrests in October 2008.Pronouncing its verdict today, the court said that the prosecution successfully proved that the blast did take place, but the National Investigation Agency (NIA) failed to establish that the bomb was fitted in the motorcycle.