The hearing was held in the Bombay High Court in the Malegaon blast case 2008 case. The court made it clear that no one can challenge the decision of the Sessions Court. During the hearing on the petition challenging the NIA’s special court’s decision in the Malegaon blast case, the High Court said that if the testimony of the families of those killed in the blast has been filed, its details should be made available to the court. Former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit were acquitted in the case. The next hearing will be held on Wednesday.

The hearing was held before the bench of Chief Justice Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad. The seven accused of the Malegaon blast were acquitted by the special NIA court. This decision has been challenged by the families of six people killed in the blast in the High Court.

The victim families of Malegaon Blast Case 2008 have moved the Bombay High Court against the Special Court verdict on Tuesday (9 September). On 31 July 2025, the Special Court acquitted BJP leader Pragya Thakur, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit and five others. The victim families have now approached the High Court against this decision. Nisar Ahem Syed Bilal and five others filed an appeal through advocate Matin Sheikh and have appealed to the High Court to cancel the decision of the Special Court.

Special NIA Court verdict wrong- petitioner

On 29 September 2008, a motorcycle exploded near a mosque in Malegaon. Six people were killed and 101 people were injured in this accident. The petitioners said that the Special NIA court’s decision to acquit the seven accused is wrong, so it should be canceled.

What did the Special Court say in the verdict?

The special court had said in its judgment that only suspicion cannot replace the real evidence and there is no concrete or reliable evidence for conviction. It was said in the judgment that there is no reliable and concrete evidence against the accused, so that the case can be proved beyond doubt. Apart from Pragya Thakur and Colonel Purohit, Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Raheerkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni were ruled by the court.

I had to face torture- Pragya Thakur

Pragya Thakur, who was among the accused, had claimed that she was forced to take the names of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on behalf of the investigating agencies. Sadhvi Pragya said in a statement, yes, I was forced. I did not come under pressure and I did not name anyone, no one was falsely implicated. Therefore, I was very tortured. Had to face humiliation and torture for 17 years.

Shankaracharya Avimukteshwaranand Maharaj has reacted strongly to Malegaon blast case and terrorism. He has surrounded the central and state government on this issue. He said that a terrorist is a terrorist. Shankaracharya also questioned whether ‘saffron’ will be a terrorist, then you will worship him?

Talking to the media, Saint Avimukteshwaranand Maharaj said, “Terrorism is of any color, it is terrorism. Terrorists come and go away after carrying out the incident. You do not find the culprits. There were 7 blasts in Mumbai but you could not find the guilty, there was a blast in Malegaon, you could not find the guilty. ”

Personal for color-looking terrorism- Avimukteshwaranand

He further said, “When it comes to finding terrorists, then you hide your failures and then start searching for color in terrorism. The color that is of life. After death, your eyes do not see color, people who find color in terrorism are biased towards terrorism.

Malegaon Blast Case

• On Thursday (July 31) in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, the court acquitted all the 7 accused
• Malegaon blast prosecuted for 17 years
• Three chargesheets were filed by Maharashtra ATS and NIA.
• On September 29, 2008, 6 people died after a bomb tied on a motorcycle in Malegaon.
• Riots also erupted after the 2008 Malegaon blast incident.

The blast would not have happened on its own- Avimukteshwaranand

Shankaracharya raised the question and said, “The blast would not have happened on its own, there must have been someone in it. Who was he? The Government of India, the state government is failing to find it. Someone comes and goes on blasting, then we are not able to find even after applying time and resources. This is a big slap on our ability.

Former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who was acquitted on Thursday (July 31) in the Malegaon blast case, deteriorated on Friday (August 1). He has been admitted to a private hospital in Mumbai.

Pragya Thakur has been accusing the officials of Maharashtra ATS who investigated the Malegaon blast case of torturing. He shared a picture of poor health on X on 6 November 2024. He then said about the appearance in the court in the Malegaon blast case that if I am alive, I will definitely go to the court.

Referred to ‘death babysitter pain’

Former MP from Bhopal, Pragya Thakur had said, “The torture of the Congress became the cause of death not only at ATS custody but for my lifetime. Swelling in the brain, low appearance of eyes, lower ear listening, imbalance in speaking, steroids and neuro drugs are undergoing treatment throughout the body in a hospital.

On Thursday, when the decision of the special court of NIA came, Pragya Thakur recalled the days of interrogation and said that I was tortured for 13 days, my life was ruined.

Malegaon Blast Case

The explosion occurred near a mosque on 29 September 2008 in Malegaon city of Maharashtra. It was claimed that explosives were installed in a motorcycle. We killed 6 people in the blast and 101 people were injured. Seven people including Pragya Thakur were accused in this case. All were acquitted by the NIA special court on Thursday.

Special Judge AK Lahoti, appointed for hearing the cases of NIA (National Investigation Agency), said that the accused person is entitled to the benefit of doubt. Only doubt cannot replace real evidence. He said that it has not been proved that the motorcycle used in the blast was registered in the name of Thakur, as the prosecution claimed.

In the 2008 bomb blast case in Malegaon, Maharashtra, the NIA special court has given a big verdict after 17 years. The court has acquitted 7 people including accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit in this case.

The court has also ordered two lakhs to the families of the deceased victims of Malegaon blast. He has been asked to give 50 thousand rupees to the people.

The blast took place on the holy month of Ramadan and just before Navratri on 29 September 2008, in which 6 people were killed and more than 100 people were injured. The court reserved its verdict on 19 April after the prosecution and the defense hearing and the final arguments. Due to evidence and documents of more than one lakh pages, so much time was taken by the court to pronounce the verdict.

2008 Malegaon blast case

The initial investigation of the matter is conducted by Maharashtra ATS, but in 2011 the responsibility of investigation is entrusted to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). After nearly 5 years of investigation, the NIA files a charge sheet in 2016, in which some accused are given relief on the basis of insufficient evidence. Following long hearing and statements of several witnesses, the court fulfills the final arguments on 19 April 2025 and reserves the verdict. Finally today, on 31 July 2025, the special NIA court gives a verdict in this much talked -about case and declares the culprits in which Pragya Thakur is convicted.

The Special Court of Mumbai pronounced the verdict in the 2008 bomb blast case in Malegaon. All the seven accused in this case including Pragya Thakur were acquitted. The court said that cannot be convicted on suspicion. He also explained the arguments about acquitting the accused. The court said that the investigating agencies could not prove their claims. It was also not proved whether the bike on which the bomb was planted was Sadhvi Pragya or not.

Along with Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, Retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chutrvedi, Ajay Rahairkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sameer Kulkarni were made accused in the case of Malegaon blast. The court said that after the incident, experts did not gather suit. The charge sheet of ATS and NIA has made a lot of difference. Many mistakes have also been found during the investigation.

The argument of the court, acquitted accused of accused

• Investigation agencies’ claims did not prove in court
• Bike chassis number not found
• The owner of the bike is Sadhvi Pragya, but there is no evidence of possession
• It was also not proved that the bomb was planted in the bike itself
• Prasad Purohit made a bomb, no proof
• It was also not proved who plants the bomb

How Sadhvi Pragya’s connection related to Malegaon blast

On 29 September 2008, there was a bomb blast in Malegaon, in which 6 people were killed and more than 100 were injured. The first clue of the case is one Lml Freedom was found by bike. The wrong number was on it. Also, the engine and Jesis number were also tampered with. This bike was in the name of Sadhvi Pragya, but it was not proved in the court that she had possession.

What was the charge against Colonel Purohit

The name of Colonel Purohit also came up in the case. It was alleged that they had hidden RDX from Kashmir and kept it hidden in their house. It was also alleged that he had made a bomb, but these claims of investigating agencies could not be proved.

The NIA Special Court gave a big verdict on Thursday (31 July) in the Malegaon blast case. The court acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 blast case for lack of evidence. It includes former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit. Owaisi has shared a post on X about this matter.

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi raised many serious questions, calling this decision a joke of justice. He wrote on X, “Will Modi and Fadnavis governments appeal against this decision, as they did against 12 accused acquitted in the 2006 Mumbai train bomb blast case? Will the secular parties of Maharashtra demand accountability in this matter? The biggest question is, who killed those six innocent people?

Why did Owaisi mention Rohini Salian

In 2016, Owaisi mentioned the statement of the then Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian in which he revealed that the NIA had asked him to take a soft stand against the accused. He wrote, “In the year 2017, the NIA tried to acquit Sadhvi Pragya, who later became a BJP MP in 2019.

AIMIM Chief also raised questions on investigative agencies

Owaisi questioned the negligence and suspected role of the investigating agencies, NIA and ATS. He said, “It shows the real face of the Modi government, which claims to be rigid on terrorism, who made an accused in a terrorist case MP.” Will the guilty investigative officers be held accountable? ”

Owaisi says that everyone knows the answer. This case not only exposes the flaws of the investigation process, but also raises the question whether the victims of violence on religious grounds in India will ever get justice. The victims of Malegaon are still waiting for the answer.

1. The malegaon blast case verdict is disappointing. Six Namazis was killed in the blast and near 100 ware injured. They were targeted for their relief. A deliberately shoddy investigation/prosecution is responsible for the acquittal.
2. 17 years after the blast, the court…

– Asaduddin Owaisi (@Asadowaisi) July 31, 2025

One of the most popular terrorist incidents of the country is expected to come after 17 years in the 2008 Malegaon Bomb blast case. Justice AK Lahoti can give his verdict on 31 July.

In fact, in the month of Ramadan in 2008, there was a big bomb blast in Malegaon city of Maharashtra, in which 6 people lost their lives and more than 100 were injured. The explosion took place on 29 September 2008 at a crowded Bhiku Chowk, near a mosque in the evening. The blast was caused by a bomb explosion in a motorcycle. The blast was so tremendous that many houses and shops nearby were also damaged.

Hinduist organizations were suspected to be involved in the blast

The Maharashtra ATS started investigation immediately after the blast. In the initial investigation, the needle of suspicion turned to some Hinduist organizations. The ATS had recovered an LML Freedom motorcycle from the explosion. There were many arrests in this case.

The name of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, BJP MP from Bhopal and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Srikanth Purohit, a BJP MP from Bhopal, and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Srikanth Purohit, who were BJP MP from Bhopal, were among the main accused of Malegaon Blast. Apart from these, Ramesh Shivaji Upadhyay (Retired Major), Sameer Sharad Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi and Sudhakar Chaturvedi were also accused.

According to the investigating agency, the allegations made against the accused are as follows:

– Pragya Singh Thakur: It is alleged that Pragya Thakur was involved in the bomb blasts conspiracy. The most important allegation is that the motorcycle on which the bomb was planted was his. That is, active participation in the conspiracy, providing weapons/vehicles.

– Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Srikanth Purohit: Srikanth Purohit was considered the mastermind of this entire conspiracy. He is accused that he formed an organization called ‘Abhinav Bharat’, which aims to carry out extremist activities for the establishment of a Hindu nation.

It is also alleged that he arranged explosives and played an important role in the conspiracy meetings. That is, the main architect of the conspiracy, the construction of the organization, the explosives and arms arrangements.

– Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired): Abhinav is accused of being associated with India and joining the conspiracy meetings, where the bomb blast was allegedly planned. That is, active participation in the conspiracy, holding meetings.

– Ajay Rahairkar: The bomb is accused of collecting and distributing money for the blast. That is, providing financial assistance, management of money.

– Sudhakar Dwivedi (aka Shankaracharya/Dayanand Pandey): It is alleged that he was involved in the conspiracy meetings and he worked to inspire the conspirators using religious narratives.

– Sudhakar Chaturvedi: It is accused of joining the conspiracy meetings.

– Sameer Kulkarni: Conspiracy accused for Malegaon blast.

‘Waiting for justice for 17 years’- Sameer Kulkarni

Sameer Kulkarni became emotional during a conversation with ABP News. He said that he has been waiting for justice for 17 years. At the same time, Kulkarni has expressed hope that the decision will come on 31 July and truth will win. Sameer Kulrani claimed, “I was falsely affected. I did nothing. This case has been one of the most sensitive cases politically because it used words like Hindu terrorism and saffron terrorism.”

What did Pragya Thakur’s lawyer say

At the same time, Pragya Singh Thakur’s lawyer Jayaprakash Mishra said that the Congress brought the theory of Hindu terrorism to the country and that is why Pragya Thakur and others were targeted in it.

The lawyer says that there was a lot of cruelty with Pragya Singh. ATS officials did all this at that time. In this, more than 30 witness have changed their statements in which they have told how forcibly took their statements by ATS officials. All this happened under conspiracy.

Malegaon blast case timeline

– 29 September 2008, between Anjuman Chowk and Bhiku Chowk in Malegaon (District Nashik) at 9:35 pm, Bomb blast in front of Shakeel Goods Transport Company.

– 6 people killed, 101 injured, property damage.

– FIR lodged at Azad Nagar Police Station, Malegaon at 3:00 am September 30, 2008.

– October 21, 2008 ATS was handed over the investigation of the case

On 20 January 2009, ATS Mumbai filed a charge sheet in special MCOCA court, Mumbai.

– 13 April 2011 NIA took the investigation into its hand.

On 21 April 2011, ATS Mumbai filed a supplementary charge sheet in Special NIA Court, Mumbai.

– 13 May 2016 NIA filed another supplementary charge sheet in Special NIA Court, Mumbai.

In 2017, all the accused released on bail.

– 27 December 2017 Special NIA Court Mumbai started the process of charge framing.

– On 30 October 2018, charge frames were made against a total of 7 accused.

– 3 December 2018 The first witness appeared and completed the test of the final witness (witness number 323) on 4 September 2023. 40 witness hostels declared

– The process of statement from the accused under Section 313 CRPC was completed on 12 August 2024

– Prosecution Argument lasted from 25 July 2024 to 27 September 2024.

– Defense debate (Accused No.01 to 11) was completed from 30 September 2024 to 3 April 2025.

– Processing from 4 April 2025 to 19 April 2025 was a counter -debate (Rebuttal Argument).

– The final decision will be declared on 31 July 2025.

Data related to case

* Total documents so far: 10840
* Total Witness: Around 495, of which witnesses, victims/injured, doctors, investigating officers)
* Total witnesses who were examined- 323
* Declared Hostel Witness: 40
* Drop Witness (officially): More than 40
* Dead Witness: 25
* 2 accused are still wanted.