July 31, 2025: The special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai is going to make its long-awaited decision in the case of the 2008 Malegaon blast case today, Thursday, July 31, 2025. This judgment, which has been a long time coming, comes almost 17 years after the explosion at Malegaon, Maharashtra, a place with a lot of religious animosity. It killed six people and hurt more than 100.
The blast happened close to a mosque on September 29, 2008, during the holy month of Ramzan and just before the Navratri festival. The Special Judge, A K Lahoti, will make the decision that will decide what happens to the seven defendants who are now out on bail.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, who is currently a Member of Parliament from Bhopal, and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, who used to work as a military intelligence officer for the Indian Army, have been in the news a lot because of the controversies surrounding their purported involvement.
In October 2008, police arrested Sadhvi Pragya when they found out that the motorcycle used in the blast was registered in her name. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which was the first to examine into the case, said she was part of a plan to attack areas with a lot of Muslims in them as retaliation for prior terrorist attacks.
People alleged that Lt. Col. Purohit assisted a radical Hindu outfit called Abhinav Bharat. Investigators said he helped plan meetings and was involved in procuring the explosives that were used in the attack. The case was taken over by the NIA in 2011.
More than 320 prosecution witnesses testified throughout the trial, which began in December 2018. During the trial, 37 of them turned against the others. The people who are being charged with crimes under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) are accused of terrorism, murder, inciting hate between religious groups, and other crimes. The NIA has requested for “appropriate punishment” for the people who are accused.
Today’s ruling is a very crucial part of a case that has been going on for almost twenty years and has been full of legal issues, political allegations, and public interest. The families of the victims have said they hope for justice after this long legal battle.