Malegaon blast: Court acquits Pragya, six others.
The court acquitted Pragya Thakur and six others in the Malegaon blast case, citing insufficient evidence to prove their involvement beyond a reasonable doubt.
Malegaon Blast Case: Court Acquits Pragya Thakur, Six Others Citing Lack of Evidence
Mumbai, July 29, 2025 — In a significant development that brings closure to a nearly 17-year-old terror case, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Monday acquitted former BJP The verdict has evoked a mix of relief, political murmurs, and a renewed call for justice from various quarters.
Delivering the long-awaited judgment, the special NIA court stated that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. “Suspicion, however strong, cannot take the place of legal proof,” the judge remarked while reading out the verdict. “The court cannot convict individuals on the basis of incomplete or inconclusive evidence.”
A Case That Shook the NationThe explosion, triggered by a motorcycle fitted with explosives, took place during the holy month of Ramzan and just before Navratri — a time when the town was bustling with activity.
The case drew national attention not just for the tragedy but also for the individuals named as accused. Among them were people linked to right-wing organisations, including Pragya Singh Thakur, a fiery saffron-robed ascetic who would later go on to become a Member of Parliament representing the BJP.
A Long and Winding Legal BattleIn 2011, the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which re-examined the evidence and questioned the basis of the ATS findings.
In 2016, the NIA submitted a supplementary charge sheet that gave a clean chit to some of the accused, including Thakur, citing lack of prosecutable evidence. However, the court continued the trial, and a total of seven individuals eventually faced charges under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
The accused also included Lt Col Prasad Purohit, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, all of whom were out on bail during the course of the trial.
Over the course of the decade-long proceedings, the prosecution examined 323 witnesses, but 34 of them turned hostile — weakening the case considerably. This, coupled with the lack of direct evidence tying the accused to the crime, ultimately tilted the scales in favor of the defense.
Hearings Concluded in AprilThe final arguments concluded on April 19, 2025, after which the court reserved its judgment. Given the vast volume of documentation involved — reportedly over one lakh pages — the court took additional time to meticulously examine all material before delivering its final verdict.
In its ruling, the court emphasized that justice must be rooted in evidence, not conjecture. “The burden lies squarely on the prosecution to establish guilt,” the judge noted, adding that while the incident was indeed horrific, the accused could not be held criminally liable without substantial proof.
Political and Social ReactionsThe verdict is likely to spark political ripples. While supporters of Pragya Thakur have hailed the judgment as long-overdue justice, critics and opposition leaders have raised concerns over the state of investigative agencies and the apparent dilution of terror-related cases.
Human rights groups and families of victims have expressed disappointment, saying that justice still eludes them. “Seventeen years and still no accountability,” said a relative of one of the victims. “We lost our loved ones, and now we are told no one is responsible.”
As legal experts and political analysts debate the implications of the verdict, one thing is clear: the Malegaon blast case will remain a reference point in India’s legal and political discourse for years to come.
With the acquittal, all seven accused walk free — but the questions surrounding the blast, and the broader issue of accountability in terror cases, continue to linger.