Less than two months after being acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit has been promoted to the rank of Colonel in the Indian Army.
Purohit was among seven accused, including former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pragya Singh Thakur, who faced trial for their alleged roles in the terror attack. A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court cleared them of charges after prosecutors were unable to establish their guilt.
Special Judge A.K. Lahoti, in his ruling, observed that there was “grave suspicion” against the accused but clarified that suspicion alone was not sufficient to secure a conviction. The court, therefore, extended the benefit of doubt to the accused.
The September 29, 2008, blast at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon killed six people and left many injured. The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) under then-chief Hemant Karkare and later transferred to the NIA. Investigators had alleged that Purohit founded the Abhinav Bharat organisation in 2006, through which funds were collected and a conspiracy was planned to establish a “Hindu Rashtra.”
While sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) were dropped early in the trial, the accused faced charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Indian Penal Code. The long-running case saw 12 people initially named, with six discharged in a 2016 supplementary chargesheet.
Following the acquittal, Purohit’s wife Aparna confirmed his promotion, describing it as an important milestone. Union minister Giriraj Singh also congratulated him publicly, saying the government stood with patriots who had served the country with courage.
Meanwhile, the families of those killed in the blast have moved to challenge the acquittal. The NIA has said it would seek legal advice on whether to appeal the verdict in the Bombay High Court, but has not indicated any further steps.