Col. Purohit promoted weeks after acquittal in Malegaon Blast Case
Mumbai: Less than two months after being acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit has been promoted to the rank of Colonel by the Indian Army. Purohit was one of the seven accused in the case, alongside former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pragya Singh Thakur, who were acquitted by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.
Special Judge A.K. Lahoti, while acquitting the accused, observed that though there was “grave suspicion” against them, the prosecution had failed to establish their guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The court stated, “A grave degree of suspicion is established, but not enough to convict the accused persons. Hence, the court has given them the benefit of doubt.”
The NIA, which had earlier indicated it would seek legal opinion on challenging the verdict in the Bombay High Court, has not made any firm move so far. Families of the six people killed in the blast, however, have already challenged the acquittal.
Confirming the development, Purohit’s wife Aparna said that he has received the promotion. The move is being seen as a strong signal of government support for the officer, who remained under the shadow of terror charges for 17 years.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh congratulated Purohit on social media, sharing a photograph from the pipping ceremony. “Congratulations Col. Purohit on being back in uniform. The Govt stands firmly with patriots who serve the nation with courage and integrity,” Singh wrote.
Purohit, a serving officer, was arrested in 2008 in connection with the Malegaon blast that killed six people. The case was first investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and later handed over to the NIA after its formation in 2009.
According to the ATS, Purohit had founded Abhinav Bharat in 2006, an organisation through which funds were allegedly raised and a conspiracy planned to establish a “Hindu Rashtra” with its own constitution, flag, and even a “government in exile” to be operated from Israel or Thailand. The ATS also claimed to have unearthed financial links and initially invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Those charges were later dropped, but the accused continued to face trial under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The blast took place on September 29, 2008, at Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon, a town once known for its power loom industry. A case was first registered with the local police before being transferred to the ATS. The initial probe was led by then ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was later killed in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
The case stretched over 17 years with several twists and turns. Initially, 12 people were named and jailed for nearly nine years. In 2016, when the NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet, it dropped charges against six of them, including Pragya Singh Thakur. However, after legal challenges, Thakur continued to face trial until her eventual acquittal along with the others.
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No unannounced load shedding in Kerala, outages due to overload, says Minister
Palakkad (PTI): Kerala Electricity Minister K Krishnankutty on Saturday said there was no unannounced load shedding in the state, attributing recent power interruptions to temporary overload caused by high consumption.
Clarifying concerns raised from various parts of the state, the minister said the disruptions are not deliberate but occur when demand peaks, particularly between 10 pm and 11 pm.
"It is not being done intentionally. Power consumption has risen sharply, and when there is excessive and indiscriminate usage, the system experiences overload, leading to natural supply interruptions," he told reporters here.
His remarks come amid complaints that several areas have been witnessing frequent power cuts, often lasting around 15 minutes and occurring multiple times during the night.
Krishnankutty said the state's power demand has crossed 6,195 MW, putting pressure on the supply system. He added that around 70 per cent of Kerala's electricity is procured from outside, and existing power banking arrangements have been exhausted.
"We have approached the Regulatory Commission seeking permission to purchase more power. However, this will come at a higher cost," he said.
The minister said the government is trying to avoid increasing electricity tariffs and urged consumers to exercise restraint in usage to help manage the situation.
Responding to opposition criticism over the ruling LDF's earlier claims of a decade without power cuts, he said the current situation is not unique to Kerala.
A power crisis is emerging across the country, he said, and sarcastically asked the Opposition to take note of the role of natural factors in this.
Krishnankutty expressed confidence that the situation would improve within two days, while cautioning that long-term energy security would depend on enhancing in-state power generation.
He also warned that future generations could face serious challenges if adequate electricity production capacity is not developed within Kerala.
