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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3 Indian students among those injured in Australia’s Bondi Beach attack
Melbourne (PTI): Three Indian students were among 40 people injured in the terrorist attack on Sydney's Bondi Beach in Australia, according to a media report on Tuesday.
Two out of these three students are believed to be receiving treatment in the hospital, The Australia Today news portal reported.
The names of the Indian students injured during Sunday's attack have not been disclosed yet.
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The Indian students sustained injuries during the shooting, and their exact condition has not been formally confirmed yet, it said.
Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, 50, opened fire on a gathering during the Jewish festival Hanukkah by the Sea celebration.
At least 15 people were killed in the attack, including a 10-year-old child. Five of the injured remain in critical condition, while two injured police officers are in serious but stable condition, it added.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the investigation is expanding as new information emerges, including international travel by the alleged attackers and the discovery of extremist material, the report said.
