​​​​​​​Malegaon Blast Case: All Accused Acquitted, Witness Alleges ‘Pressure to Frame Yogi Adityanath’

National News: A special NIA court in Mumbai on Thursday delivered a landmark verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, acquitting all seven accused, including BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. The court ruled that the investigating agencies failed to produce any concrete evidence to support the charges. Yet, it was the shocking revelations made during the proceedings that pushed the case back into the spotlight.

Witness Claims He Was Pressured to Name Yogi Adityanath & RSS

Government witness Milind Joshi told the court he was repeatedly pressured to implicate Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, and leaders of other right‑wing organizations. Joshi testified that he was held in custody for several days, during which he faced mental and physical harassment.

“I was told that if I named Hindutva organizations and leaders, I would be released from the case,” he revealed.

Investigating Officer Makes a Stunning Admission

Mehboob Mujawar, an officer involved in the initial investigation, also made a startling statement in court.

“The case was framed in a way to create the narrative of saffron terrorism. The government at the time wanted to weaken Hindutva‑based politics,” Mujawar alleged. He further added that witnesses, including Joshi, were pressured to mention names like Aseemanand and Yogi Adityanath to lend weight to this theory.

Court’s Strong Words—‘Terrorism Has No Religion’

While delivering its verdict, the court made a pointed observation: “Terrorism has no religion. No faith justifies violence.” The court noted that the prosecution relied largely on stories and allegations, with no substantial evidence to support the charges.

Who Were the Accused?

The seven individuals acquitted in the case are:

• Sadhvi Pragya Thakur (BJP MP)
• Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit
• Retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay
• Ajay Rahgirkar
• Sudhakar Chaturvedi
• Sameer Kulkarni
• Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi

The court ruled that no solid evidence linked them to the attack.

Background—What Was the Malegaon Blast Case?

On 29 September 2008, a bomb exploded in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring 101 others. Early investigations pointed toward right‑wing groups, and the incident was branded as part of “saffron terrorism.” After 16 years of legal battles, the acquittal has brought the long‑running case to a close.

The Malegaon blast verdict not only clears the accused but also raises serious questions about the investigation and its possible political motivations. The testimony of a key witness and admissions by an investigating officer suggest an effort to implicate prominent Hindutva figures, including Yogi Adityanath.

The court’s message was clear: “It is wrong to associate any religion with terrorism.”