Acquittals in Malegaon Blast Case After 17 Years: All Defendants Found Not Guilty, Hindu Groups Celebrate as 'Triumph of Truth'
The Malegaon bomb blast case, which took place on September 29, 2008, and claimed the lives of six individuals and injured over 100 during the Muslim festival of Ramzan, has once again made headlines, this time due to a recent acquittal by a Special NIA court. The acquitted include former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit.
The verdict, handed down in 2025, has been hailed by Hindu organizations as a long-awaited vindication, bringing truth to light after 17 years and clearing the blot of "Hindu terrorism" or "saffron terror" from the accused. The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) has demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi for allegedly insulting the Hindu community and the country by propagating the notion of Hindu extremism.
The investigation and subsequent arrests in 2008 gave rise to the controversial term "Hindu terrorism" or "saffron terror." This politically charged narrative, popularized during the UPA government era, linked Hindu organizations such as the RSS and BJP to terror activities. Statements from top leaders portrayed RSS-affiliated groups as major threats, drawing domestic and international attention to "Hindu extremist groups."
However, this narrative has since been widely criticized as politically motivated and misleading. The court's acquittal of all accused citing lack of reliable evidence has renewed criticism of the investigation, suggesting that political bias under the UPA era may have fueled the "saffron terror" campaign, undermining faith in the justice system and communal harmony.
The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) and Sanatan Sanstha have accused the Congress of subjecting them to physical and mental torture solely because they were Hindus, and of committing a grave sin by branding Hindus as terrorists. The HJS demands that those who conspired to label Hindus as terrorists be identified and brought to justice.
The acquittal has sparked doubts due to its timing, with SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav questioning whether the news is intended to divert attention from the real issues. The case is historically significant both for the tragic bombing itself and for the political controversy it ignited around the concept of “Hindu terrorism.” The eventual acquittal after nearly 17 years highlights concerns about possible misuse of government machinery during the investigation and underscores the complexities of politically charged terrorism cases in India.
In other news, the inauguration of a new 30-seat cyber crime helpline centre in Lucknow's PGI area aims to combat online fraud, while Shashi Prakash Goyal has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh after Manoj Singh was denied an extension. CM Devendra Fadnavis, in a video, has stated that the police acted under pressure and the Congress must apologize to Hindus.
- The Malegaon bomb blast case acquittal in 2025, which absolved former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit, has reignited debates about the politically charged term "Hindu terrorism" or "saffron terror" that surfaced during the UPA government era.
- The Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Sanstha have raised concerns over the alleged mistreatment and labeling of Hindus as terrorists during the investigation of the Malegaon bomb blast case, demanding accountability.
- In a separate development, a new 30-seat cyber crime helpline center has been inaugurated in Lucknow's PGI area to tackle online fraud, while Shashi Prakash Goyal has been appointed as the new Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh, following the denial of an extension for Manoj Singh.
