Acted on mere suspicion: Court takes apart prosecution's Malegaon blasts case

Seventeen years after a deadly blast rocked Maharashtra's Malegaon town, a special NIA court in Mumbai on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Colonel Prasad Purohit.

Delivering the much-awaited verdict, Special Judge AK Lahoti said the prosecution had failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The court noted there was no concrete proof that Col Purohit had procured or transported RDX, nor was there any evidence to show he had assembled the bomb. Similarly, there was no clarity on who had parked the motorcycle-used in the explosion-at the blast site, or who had participated in post-blast violence, including stone pelting, damage to public property, or the alleged snatching of a police firearm.

COURT'S TOP QUOTES IN VERDICT

"There is no iota of evidence against Pragya Singh Thakur. She was not part of any conspiracy nor was she present when the explosive was planted."

"The bike used in the blast was registered in her name, but there is no evidence she was using it. Mere ownership does not establish involvement."

"Prosecution has failed to establish that she had provided any support or assistance in the execution of the offence."

"She was in jail for nine years without sufficient evidence and this is a serious miscarriage of justice."

"The NIA, in its supplementary charge sheet, failed to present fresh or convincing evidence to establish her role."

"Pragya Singh Thakur's statements, including ones that are politically controversial, cannot be used to implicate her retroactively in a conspiracy."

"Confessional statements under MCOCA are not admissible as sole basis for conviction unless corroborated by other material evidence."

"The court is duty bound to ensure that the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty' is not diluted, especially in cases driven by political narratives."

"An accused cannot be punished merely because he or she belongs to a particular ideology. Rule of law must prevail over political perception."

"The delay in recording statements, procedural lapses and contradictions in prosecution witnesses raise serious doubts about the credibility of the case."

"It is clear that investigation was not conducted in a fair and impartial manner, which casts a shadow over the entire prosecution case."

- Ends