**NIA Court Acquits All Accused in 2008 Malegaon Blasts Case**
A special NIA court has acquitted all individuals charged in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, including Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. The court dismissed Purohit’s defense, which claimed he joined the organization Abhinav Bharat—allegedly linked to the blasts—to gather intelligence. In a detailed ruling released on Saturday, Special Judge AK Lahoti noted that Purohit failed to provide any documentary evidence to support his claims of attending Abhinav Bharat meetings or collecting donations as part of his military duties.
The blasts occurred on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon, a town with a significant Muslim population, resulting in six fatalities and nearly 100 injuries. Earlier this week, the NIA court also acquitted all seven accused, including Purohit and former BJP MP Pragya Thakur, who had become a prominent figure in the case. The court found no evidence that Purohit was involved in bringing RDX or assembling the bomb used in the attack. Furthermore, it exonerated Abhinav Bharat, stating there was no proof of the group’s involvement in any terrorist activities.
In his petition, Purohit argued that his role in military intelligence required him to infiltrate banned organizations, and he claimed to have kept his superiors informed. However, the court determined that while Purohit was a trustee of the Abhinav Bharat Trust, there was no documentation indicating that he had received permission from his superiors to join the organization or to collect funds. The court concluded that since the alleged actions were not part of his official duties, no sanction was necessary under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
Judge Lahoti stated, “I did not find the alleged acts of Purohit were in discharge of his official duties. The prosecution could not substantiate the charges due to police lapses, hostile witnesses, and a lack of material evidence.” He emphasized that the question of requiring sanction under Section 197 was irrelevant in this case.
Purohit had contested the government’s sanction to prosecute him, but the judge clarified that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to granting sanctions; each case must be evaluated based on its specific facts and circumstances. The court noted that the protection under Section 197 is not absolute and does not cover actions by public servants that involve criminal misconduct or conspiracy.
In conclusion, while Purohit expressed gratitude for the Army’s support following his acquittal, the court remarked that the Army had not intervened to assist him during his arrest by Maharashtra’s anti-terrorism squad.
**FAQ**
**Q: What was the outcome of the 2008 Malegaon blasts case?**
A: A special NIA court acquitted all accused, including Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, citing a lack of evidence linking them to the blasts.
