Bombay HC Issues Notice to Sadhvi Pragya, Six Others in 2008 Malegaon Blast Case

Mumbai (The Uttam Hindu): The Bombay High Court has issued notices to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and six others acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, directing them to file a reply within six weeks. The court also sent a notice to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after the families of the six victims challenged the special NIA court’s acquittal order.

The matter was heard by a bench of Chief Justice Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhd. The petition argued that acquittals cannot be based solely on errors or lapses in investigation, especially when the conspiracy behind the blast was carried out with secrecy, making direct evidence difficult to obtain.

Earlier, on 31 July, the special NIA court had acquitted all seven accused, including former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. On 16 September, the High Court had observed that the right to appeal against such acquittals lies only with those directly linked to the trial—victims or witnesses—not outsiders.

The petitioners further contended that the trial court should not have acted as a mere spectator. Instead, it should have exercised its authority to ask questions and summon additional witnesses, if necessary.

The Malegaon blast took place on 29 September 2008, when a bomb tied to a motorcycle exploded near Bhikku Chowk mosque in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. The attack, which occurred during Ramzan and just days before Navratri, claimed six lives and left over 100 people injured.

The High Court will continue hearing on Wednesday to decide whether the victims’ appeal is maintainable and what role the families had during the trial.