17 Years Later, Sadhvi Pragya Acquitted: 'They Ruined My Life and Branded Me a Terrorist'

In a major decision, the special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in Maharashtra, 17 years after the incident. Among those acquitted are former Member of Parliament Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and retired Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. Following the court’s verdict, a sharp and emotional statement from Sadhvi Pragya has emerged.

Sadhvi Pragya Expresses Her Pain

After being acquitted, Sadhvi Pragya said that her spiritual life as a saint was destroyed, she was humiliated, and wrongfully declared a terrorist. She claimed that she was arrested without any solid evidence in the name of investigation and was subjected to both mental and physical torture. This entire ordeal, she said, changed her life completely from the way she was once living as a saint.

A Conspiracy to Defame

Sadhvi Pragya further said that had she not been a Sannyasi (ascetic), she might not have been alive today. She alleged that there was a conspiracy to defame the saffron identity and under that plan, she was falsely implicated. According to her, this day marks the victory of saffron and Hindutva, and those who plotted this conspiracy will be punished by God. She also stated that although the court could not identify the real culprits, those who tried to malign India and its culture will ultimately be defeated by the truth.