If no one is guilty, who killed the six?: Prakash Ambedkar slams Malegaon blast acquittals
Mumbai: Following the acquittal of all accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Yashwant Ambedkar has raised sharp and uncomfortable questions about the investigation and prosecution of the case. The special NIA court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit both associated with Hindutva groups, due to lack of evidence.
Reacting to the verdict, Ambedkar questioned the very basis of justice. “If no one is guilty, who planned and executed the Malegaon bomb blasts? Who killed six people?” he posted on X.
He criticised the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for its shifting stance during the trial. “Why did the NIA change its stand in the investigation? Unless this question is answered, the truth will never be out,” he said.
Ambedkar raised concerns about the disappearance of key documents and inconsistencies in the probe. “Where are the papers of the investigation, initially led by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) under the late IPS officer Hemant Karkare?” he asked. “Why did the NIA begin a new inquiry when a line of investigation already existed?”
The VBA leader also highlighted the alarming trend of key witnesses, including serving army officers, turning hostile. “If they were lying before, why hasn’t the prosecution filed perjury charges against any of them?” he questioned.
Further, Ambedkar demanded accountability from the officers who initially led the investigation. “If the ATS planted evidence, why has the NIA court not held those officers accountable or recommended a departmental inquiry?” he said.
Warning against selective justice, he remarked, “Otherwise, like Manu’s laws, are we to believe no Brahmin shall ever be guilty? Or that RSS members are beyond accountability?”
The families of the victims have confirmed they will be moving the High Court against the acquittal. Advocate Shahid Nadeem, representing the families, said, “The bomb blast has been proved by the Court. We will challenge this acquittal in the High Court. We will file the appeal independently.”
The Malegaon blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, claimed six lives and injured over 100 people in a Muslim-majority town in Maharashtra. The acquittal of all accused, after nearly 17 years, has sparked fresh outrage and raised questions about the credibility of the investigative process.
If no one is guilty, who planned and executed the Malegaon bomb blasts? Who killed six people?
— Prakash Ambedkar (@Prksh_Ambedkar) August 1, 2025
Why did the NIA change its stand in the investigation? — Unless this questioned is answered, the truth will never be out!
Where are the papers of the investigation, initially led by…
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Bank account in Ramgarh tracked for fraudulent fund transactions across 24 states, 4 arrested
Ramgarh (Jharkhand) (PTI): Jharkhand police on Thursday said it has unearthed a network of interstate cyber frauds and arrested four miscreants for fraudulent transactions through a bank account in Ramgarh district after complaints of 274 suspected transactions in 24 states.
The states where complaints for fraudulent transactions were registered included Maharashtra, Karnataka, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh.
The action followed inputs received through 'Samanvaya portal', a centralised, web-based platform launched by the Union Home Ministry to curb cybercrime.
"We arrested four cyber miscreants after a current account with Kuju (Ramgarh) branch of the State Bank of India was found to have registered suspected financial transactions in 24 states with the help of the Pratibimba portal of the Home Ministry through the Samanvaya portal," Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar Lunayat said.
During the probe, police found that the account was opened under the MSME Udyam Registration scheme in the name of Shree Ganesh Enterprises, he said.
The account had been linked to as many as 274 complaints from different states related to cyber fraud and illegal fund transfers.
The registered proprietors of the enterprise were identified as Rahul Gupta (37), Ravi Kumar Verma (34), and Ajay Sharma (33), all residents of Ramgarh district, a statement from the Ramgarh police said.
During interrogation, Rahul Gupta and Ravi Kumar Verma revealed that they had opened multiple current accounts at the behest of Ritesh Agrawal alias Munna (40) and Sonu Kumar Jha (34).
They admitted receiving Rs 1.2 lakh in exchange for facilitating the opening of these accounts.
"The accused further confessed to sharing OTPs, activating mobile banking services, and handing over control of the accounts to the main operators through WhatsApp and Telegram groups. These accounts were then allegedly used to route fraudulent transactions.
Police said mobile data analysis of the accused led to the recovery of crucial digital evidence, including details of SIM cards, bank accounts, passbooks, ATM cards, QR code scanners, Aadhaar cards, and PAN cards shared through messaging platforms.
A total of four accused have been arrested so far and sent to judicial custody.
A case has been registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 and Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Further investigation is underway, the police said.
