Indian Army Officer Colonel Purohit Promoted Following Acquittal in 2008 Malegaon Blast Case

New Delhi:

Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit has been elevated to the rank of Colonel following his acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case after a prolonged legal struggle. He was among seven individuals acquitted by the special NIA court on July 31. In delivering its verdict, the court emphasized that "mere suspicion cannot replace proof" and cited insufficient reliable and convincing evidence beyond reasonable doubt.

The explosion occurred on September 29, 2008, when a motorcycle-mounted explosive device detonated near a mosque in Maharashtra's Nashik district town of Malegaon, resulting in six fatalities and over 100 injuries.

His arrest marked an unprecedented incident involving a serving officer of the Indian Army in a terrorism case. The matter became controversial, particularly with the term "Hindu terror" becoming widely discussed in public discourse.

Mr. Purohit alleged that this term was initially used by Nationalist Congress Party leader Sharad Pawar approximately one month before the Malegaon incident, suggesting a narrative was being constructed prior to the explosion.

He further claimed that during his detention, investigators pressured him to implicate Yogi Adityanath and other right-wing leaders in the case.

His legal representatives maintained that he was a military intelligence officer who had infiltrated terrorist organizations and regularly reported to his superiors. They also highlighted inconsistencies in witness testimonies and alleged procedural violations.

Following his acquittal, Mr. Purohit, who had been reinstated in the Army while awaiting trial, stated that he had been accused of something and subsequently exonerated, adding that "bygones should be bygones."

"I express my gratitude to the Indian Army, known for supporting its soldiers. I thank my legal team who fought the case pro bono. I will forever be indebted to these individuals," he told NDTV.

Besides Lt Colonel Purohit, others accused in the case included former BJP MP Pragya Thakur, Major Ramesh Upadhyay (Retd), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, and Sameer Kulkarni.