- Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, promoted to Colonel.
- Special NIA court cited lack of evidence, ruling “mere suspicion cannot replace proof.”
- Purohit was first serving Army officer arrested in a terror case; later reinstated during trial.
- Defence argued he was infiltrating terror groups for military intelligence.
- Blast killed six, injured over 100 near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 25th Sept: Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case after a prolonged legal fight, has been promoted to the rank of Colonel. Purohit was among seven accused cleared of all charges by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on July 31. The court observed that “mere suspicion cannot replace proof” and cited the absence of credible evidence beyond reasonable doubt.
The September 29, 2008 blast near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra’s Nashik district, killed six people and injured over 100 when an explosive strapped to a motorcycle detonated. Purohit’s arrest marked the first time a serving Indian Army officer was booked in a terror case, sparking national debate as the term “Hindu terror” entered political discourse.
Purohit has maintained that he was a military intelligence officer who had infiltrated extremist groups and reported regularly to his superiors. His lawyers highlighted inconsistencies in witness statements and alleged procedural lapses during the investigation. He also claimed investigators pressured him to implicate political figures, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
After his acquittal, Purohit—who had been reinstated in the Army pending trial—expressed gratitude to the military and his legal team, which represented him pro bono. “I want to thank the Indian Army, which holds the hands of its soldiers. I am forever indebted to my legal team,” he said.
Besides Purohit, the accused included BJP MP Pragya Thakur, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni. The case, once emblematic of the contentious “Hindu terror” narrative, concluded with the court exonerating all defendants due to lack of evidence.
