Mumbai: Ex-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Pragya Singh Thakur reportedly broke down in court on Thursday, July 31, after the special NIA court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, saying that the prosecution had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Addressing Judge AK Lahoti, an emotional Pragya recounted the years of stigma and isolation she endured during the prolonged legal battle.
“I came to police and I was tortured to the extent of spoiling my life. For 17 years I lived a sanyasi (monk) life. People used to see me as a terrorist. I couldn’t live in grace. Just because I was a sanyasi, I survived. Bhagwan (God) was fighting this case for me," she told the court.
She added, “At least this court has listened to me. I have not won the case, but saffron has won. Whoever called bhagwa (saffron) terrorist, God will never forgive them.”
Court Cites Lack Of Evidence, inconsistency In Medical Records
The NIA court said that while it was established that a blast did occur in Malegaon, the prosecution could not prove the bomb was planted on the motorcycle linked to the accused. “Prosecution proved that a blast occurred in Malegaon but failed to prove that bomb was placed in that motorcycle,” said Judge Lahoti.
The court also pointed to discrepancies in the medical records, observing that the actual number of injured persons was 95, not 101, as earlier claimed. “There was manipulation in some medical certificates,” the judge added.
All 7 Accused Acquitted; Victims to Receive Compensation
The blast on September 29, 2008 near Bhikku Chowk in Malegaon killed six people and injured dozens. Of the 11 initially accused, charges were framed against seven individuals, including Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi and Sameer Kulkarni.
Following the acquittal, the court ordered the Maharashtra government to pay Rs 2 lakh to the families of those killed and Rs 50,000 to each of the injured.
