Malegaon Blast Case: All 7 Accused Acquitted by NIA Court Due to Lack of Evidence; ATS Role Under Scrutiny

New Delhi (India) August 1: A former member of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) states that he was urged to arrest RSS chairman Mohan Bhagwat in relation to the case. ATS was handling the investigation of the 2008 Malegaon explosion.

Ex-ATS officer claims pressure to arrest RSS chief

Mehboob Mujawar is a retired officer. He claims that Investigating Officer Param Bir Singh gave him the order. The order intended to spread the disinformation of "saffron terror" across India.

The retired officer also claims that the ruling revealed the "fabricated investigation" carried out by a "fake officer". The Investigating Officer had wrongfully accused him of ignoring his illegal commands.

He said, "I was directed by Paramveer Singh, and those above him asked me to arrest these individuals --Ram Kalsangra, Sandip Dange, Dilip Patidar, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. It was beyond my capacity to arrest someone like Mohan Bhagwat, who holds significant influence in Maharashtra".

Leaders say Hindu terror plot was false

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde of Maharashtra praised the acquittal of all seven defendants in the 2008 Malegaon bomb case. They say it clears the "false stigma" against the Hindu community and defends those who were unfairly targeted out.

Fadnavis says, “A conspiracy was hatched about Hindu terrorism which the court has rejected with evidence. The Congress should seek forgiveness not just from those against whom action was taken but from the entire Hindu community.” 

Fadnavis states that he will not hold the police responsible because they were under pressure from the ruling party at the time to set up this plot about Hindu terrorism.

He claims that the UPA government developed a fake narrative of Hindu terror. This happens in order to fight the international debate surrounding Islamic terror after 9/11.

In his strong remarks, Shinde charges that Congress leaders had created the term "Hindu terrorism" to criticize patriotism.

Shinde says, " After a long battle of seventeen years, a special court has acquitted seven alleged accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case. It is true that justice was delayed, but it has once again been proven that truth is never defeated,” on X.

Court finds no solid proof of charges

During the trial, more than 300 prosecution witnesses testified, many of whom were hostile. The NIA special court cites a lack of "cogent and reliable evidence" to support the charges and clears all seven defendants.

The judge points out that the prosecution had not proven that Purohit had assembled or stored the explosives, that the motorcycle belonged to Thakur, or that the bomb was installed on it. The court further notes that "terrorism has no religion" and that "mere suspicion" or "moral perception" are insufficient grounds for guilt.

During the course of the investigation, the court also orders an investigation into severe claims made against an ATS officer and the filing of apparently fake medical certifications.

Aadrika Tayal