Court Verdict Leads to Pragya Thakur's Assertion: Forced to Accuse Prime Minister Modi in Malegaon Blast Case
In a surprising turn of events, a special court in Mumbai has acquitted all seven accused, including Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The acquittal comes after nearly 17 years since the bomb explosion near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra, which claimed six lives and injured around 95 others.
The court concluded that the overall evidence did not inspire confidence to convict the accused. Special Judge A K Lahoti, who was assigned to hear cases of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), found several loopholes in the prosecution's case and the investigation carried out by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). The court also stated that "mere suspicion cannot take the place of real proof."
The case began as a terrorism investigation, targeting Hindu extremist groups, led by the ATS. The motorcycle used in the blast was claimed by the ATS to belong to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a former BJP MP. However, the court could not find any credible evidence to prove the motorcycle belonged to Thakur or that she had any role in the blast planning.
Pragya Thakur, a controversial figure known as a godwoman, has made explosive claims that she was forced and tortured to take the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and others in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. She alleges that the Congress was behind the "false case" as part of a larger "conspiracy" to "defame the saffron (Bhagwa) and the armed forces."
The court flagged the absence of "reliable and cogent" evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. Thakur has written in detail about those she was forced to name, suggesting a politically motivated frame-up by the Congress-led government at the time.
As the acquittal sparks debate and controversy, Thakur has claimed that the Congress is anti-religion and feeds terrorists, and that she wasn't given proper medical care, leading to her current weak condition. The court's decision has brought closure to the long-drawn-out case, but the allegations made by Thakur continue to cast a shadow over the case's history.
[1] NDTV. (2025, August 11). Malegaon blast: Special NIA court acquits Pragya Thakur, others. Retrieved from https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/malegaon-blast-special-nia-court-acquits-pragya-thakur-others-2649674
[2] The Indian Express. (2025, August 11). Malegaon blast: Special NIA court acquits all accused, including Pragya Thakur, Prasad Purohit. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/india/malegaon-blast-special-nia-court-acquits-all-accused-including-pragya-thakur-prasad-purohit-7963324/
[3] The Hindu. (2025, August 11). Malegaon blast: Pragya Thakur, others acquitted by special NIA court. Retrieved from https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/malegaon-blast-pragya-thakur-others-acquitted-by-special-nia-court/article38353232.ece
[4] The Wire. (n.d.). Malegaon blast case: A timeline of events. Retrieved from https://thewire.in/law/malegaon-blast-case-a-timeline-of-events
[5] The Quint. (2021, March 23). Pragya Thakur's Malegaon Blast Case Acquittal: A Timeline of Events, Allegations and Controversies. Retrieved from https://www.thequint.com/news/india/pragya-thakur-malegaon-blast-case-acquittal-a-timeline-of-events-allegations-and-controversies
The acquittal of Pragya Thakur and others in the Malegaon blast case has sparked a flurry of general-news discussions, with many questioning the validity of the investigation and the evidence presented.
The court's statements, emphasizing the lack of reliable evidence and the importance of real proof in such cases, have further fueled debates about crime-and-justice in the country's political milieu.
