'I Was Humiliated for 17 Years': Sadhvi Pragya Breaks Down After Acquittal in Malegaon Case

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu) - The NIA special court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, leading to an emotional atmosphere in the court.

In its verdict, the court cited lack of sufficient evidence to sustain the charges under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act and Indian Penal Code (IPC). After the verdict was announced, Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, one of the prime accused, broke down in tears in the courtroom. Addressing the judge with folded hands, she said, "I was tortured for 13 days. My life was ruined. I was humiliated for 17 years. They labelled me a terrorist in my own country." Thanking the court for her acquittal, she further said, "I cannot say anything about those who brought me to this condition. I am alive only because I am a sanyasi. Saffron was labelled terrorism, today saffron has won. Hindutva has won. Those who equate Hindutva with terrorism will never be forgiven."

Another accused, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, who was present in the court, also expressed gratitude after the verdict. He said, "I start with 'Jai Hind'. My identity is from the Indian Army. I have served the country and will continue to do so. Investigative agencies as an institution are not wrong, but the people involved in them can be wrong. He further said, "I suffered punishment for 17 years. I had to endure all this even after getting bail. What happened was wrong. Some officers misused their powers and we became their victims. I just hope that no common citizen has to suffer what we had to suffer. I am thankful to the court." The courtroom was packed to the brim on Thursday as, as per the court's earlier order, all the seven accused were present when the verdict was pronounced. The court also directed the government to pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the six deceased and Rs 50,000 each to the injured victim. The Malegaon blast took place on the evening of September 29, 2008, when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded near the Bhikku Chowk mosque in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town in Maharashtra's Nashik district. Six people were killed and over 100 injured in the attack, which took place during Ramzan and a few days ahead of Navratri.