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.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP Cong holds statewide protest seeking probe into FIR against Swami Avimukteshwaranand
Lucknow (PTI): The Uttar Pradesh Congress on Wednesday staged a statewide protest demanding a fair and transparent inquiry into the FIR lodged against Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and those who filed the complaint against him.
In a statement issued here, the party said memorandums addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi were submitted through district magistrates in all districts of the state.
Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Manish Hindvi told PTI that the memorandums were handed over through the district administration in all 75 districts.
In the memorandum, the party alleged that Saraswati and his disciples were "unnecessarily harassed and humiliated" by police on the occasion of Amavasya and were prevented from taking a ritual bath (at the Magh Mela). It further alleged that some disciples were manhandled and taken to a police station.
The memorandum also claimed that an FIR was later registered against Saraswati, his disciple Swami Mukundanand Brahmachari and several unidentified persons in a sexual harassment case. It termed the case a "conspiracy" aimed at tarnishing the seer's reputation.
Citing Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution, the memorandum stated that these provisions guarantee religious freedom and the right of religious denominations to manage their own affairs.
It described the position of shankaracharya held by Saraswati as "one of the highest spiritual posts in Sanatan tradition" and alleged that the entire episode appeared to have been "orchestrated in a planned manner".
"We request that the background of the persons who got the FIR registered be investigated in a transparent manner by a retired high court judge and strict action be taken against them," the memorandum said.
It also sought a "fair and transparent probe" into the allegations levelled against Saraswati so that the truth could be established.
Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai had told reporters in Varanasi after meeting Saraswati that the party stood firmly with him.
The Congress said it would continue to press for an impartial inquiry into the entire episode.
On February 21, an FIR was lodged in Prayagraj against Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari on charges of sexually abusing two persons, including a minor, over the past year at a gurukul and religious congregations, including the recently concluded Magh Mela.
Days after he was booked, Saraswati had said on Monday that he would not oppose his arrest and asserted that the "fabricated story" would be exposed sooner or later.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Saraswati alleged that criminals rule in Uttar Pradesh, level allegations and influence investigations, as he denied having any contact with the two persons for whose alleged sexual abuse he has been booked.
_vb_77.jpeg)
_vb_00.jpeg)
