Who Are The Key Figures In The 2008 Malegaon Blast Case?
The 2008 Malegaon blast case verdict is expected on Wednesday, nearly 16 years after a bomb went off near a mosque in the textile town of Malegaon in Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring over 100. The verdict will be delivered by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai, according to a report by PTI.
Seven accused faced trial in the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit. The other five are Major (Retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni. All were charged under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code.
The blast took place on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon during the holy month of Ramzan. The town, around 200 km from Mumbai, has a sizable Muslim population and has witnessed communal tensions in the past.
Who Are the Accused?
Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit: An Army officer at the time of the blast, Purohit was accused of supplying explosives and playing a central role in planning the attack. He was arrested in 2008 and spent nearly nine years in jail before being granted bail in 2017. He claims he was working undercover and had kept his superiors informed.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur: Former BJP MP from Bhopal, Thakur was accused of providing the motorcycle used in the blast. Initially arrested in 2008, she was granted bail on health grounds in 2017. The NIA later dropped charges under MCOCA against her but pursued others under the UAPA.
Major (Retd) Ramesh Upadhyay: A former Army officer, Upadhyay was allegedly part of Abhinav Bharat, a right-wing group, investigators linked to the blast. He is accused of participating in planning meetings and helping execute the plot.
Sudhakar Dwivedi (Dayanand Pandey): A self-styled religious leader, Dwivedi was accused of being an ideological guide for the conspiracy. Prosecutors claimed he provided intellectual backing and helped coordinate the group.
Ajay Rahirkar: He was the treasurer of Abhinav Bharat. Rahirkar allegedly helped fund the activities of the group and was charged with financing the blast conspiracy.
Sudhakar Chaturvedi: Allegedly close to Purohit, Chaturvedi was accused of helping store explosives and taking part in planning meetings.
Sameer Kulkarni: Also linked to Abhinav Bharat, Kulkarni was accused of participating in meetings that led to the planning of the blast. He was granted bail in 2017.
What Did The NIA Say
The case was first investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), before being handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011. The trial formally began in 2018, and after the conclusion of arguments in April 2025, the court reserved its judgment.
The NIA, in its final submission, said the accused conspired to carry out the explosion to create communal disharmony and destabilise internal security. It argued that the evidence presented in court was 'relevant, admissible, cogent, trustworthy, wholly reliable and proved," forming a clear chain of events leading to the blast.
view comments
Location :
Mumbai, India, India
First Published:
July 30, 2025, 23:46 IST
News india Who Are The Key Figures In The 2008 Malegaon Blast Case?
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: PCA prez, 5 others to face trial for murder of liquor contractor's worker
A Faridkot court has framed charges of murder, destruction of evidence and criminal conspiracy against Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) president and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Amarjit Mehta and five others in a 2016 murder case. The charges were framed under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 27 of the Arms Act. (HT File) The other accused include four Punjab Police personnel — sub-inspector Lachman Singh and constables Parminder Singh, Dharminder Singh and Kabal Singh — and liquor contractor Dharampal Singh Goel. All six are on bail. The charges were framed under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), 148 (rioting armed with a deadly weapon) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 27 of the Arms Act. The trial will begin on August 8. Hearing the matter on July 30, the court of additional sessions judge Dinesh Kumar Wadhwa said from the material placed before the court, a prima facie case for an offence punishable under these sections was made out against the accused. The case pertains to the killing of kabaddi player Ajmer Singh, who worked for a liquor contractor in Faridkot, on May 25, 2016. According to the FIR, Ajmer was portrayed as a member of the Davinder Bambiha gang and killed in a police encounter that was allegedly in self-defence. Allegations against the accused Bathinda-based businessman Amarjit Mehta and his associate Dharampal Singh Goel, who was involved in the liquor business, had allegedly been pressuring liquor contractors in Faridkot to either sell their shares to them or divert their liquor quotas Ajmer and his brother Ranjit, both kabaddi players, reportedly worked for a rival liquor contractor. Ranjit, who was also later murdered, had alleged that Mehta, Goel and the police chased and killed Ajmer. In 2018, a judicial probe into the killing was initiated after Ajmer's mother Manjit Kaur filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). The probe by the sub-divisional judicial magistrate of Jaitu found major inconsistencies in the police account, which it held were aimed at concealing the facts behind Ajmer's murder. What the police claimed The FIR filed on May 26, 2016, by then Jaitu SHO Lachman Singh stated that Ajmer, along with another armed man, opened fire on a night patrol team. In self-defence, a constable used his rifle and one of the gunshots hit Ajmer. The FIR stated that an SUV later arrived and took away the injured man. Ajmer's family, however, contested this, alleging that Mehta, Goel and the police officials chased and shot Ajmer dead. A murder FIR was subsequently registered on June 7, 2021. A special investigation team (SIT), led by DSP Jatsinder Singh, later again backed police's self-defence claim and recommended cancellation of the FIR. Ajmer's mother contested this and the sub-divisional judicial magistrate (SDJM) rejected the cancellation report on July 30, 2024. The SDJM order also cited the judicial inquiry report, which found that the probe by DSP Jagdish Kumar Bishnoi was inadequate, raising suspicions that the probe was designed to protect the real culprits. The order mentioned that the police tortured Ajmer's brother Ranjit and filed false charges against him under the NDPS Act and Excise Act to pressure him. Ranjit was later acquitted in both cases. The SDJM order also noted that Ajmer's family was allegedly offered ₹35-40 lakh by SHO Lachman Singh to withdraw the case, and threatened when they refused.
Hindustan Times
14 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
Man booked for raping minor daughter
The Meharban police booked a man for raping his minor daughter. According to the victim, the accused was raping her for the past few months and threatened her to keep mum. Man booked for raping minor daughter The FIR has been lodged following the statement of the mother of the victim. The complainant, who is a resident of Meharban, stated that she found her daughter in depression. When asked, the girl narrated her ordeal. She stated that her father has been raping her for the past few months after finding her alone at home. He also threatened her to keep mum. She filed a complaint with the police. ASI Jaswinder Singh, who is investigating the case, stated that soon after receiving a complaint, the police lodged an FIR under sections 64 (rape), 351 (2) (criminal intimidation) of BNS and section 4 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A hunt is on to arrest the accused.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Rahul Gandhi will unseat Modi, not RSS: Revanth
Hyderabad: Chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Saturday said that it will not be the RSS or internal BJP politics that dislodges Narendra Modi from power—but Rahul Gandhi . Revanth asserted that the Congress, under Rahul's leadership, will limit the BJP to under 150 Lok Sabha seats in the next elections. "Even BJP MP Nishikant Dubey admitted they can't cross 150 seats without Modi. I want him to write in his diary—Modi will be unseated, not by age limits or RSS manoeuvering, but by Rahul and the people of India," Revanth said at the AICC Legal Conclave 2025 in Delhi, addressing a gathering of legal professionals in the presence of AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi. Taking aim at recent comments by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who hinted at a 75-year retirement threshold for political leaders, Revanth quipped, "I think Modi is not in favour of it. Why don't the rules that forced Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi into retirement apply to Modi?" You Can Also Check: Hyderabad AQI | Weather in Hyderabad | Bank Holidays in Hyderabad | Public Holidays in Hyderabad Drawing a contrast between Modi's unrelenting grip on power and the Gandhi family's record of renunciation, Revanth said: "Modi has never given up any position since becoming Gujarat CM. But Sonia Gandhi declined the PM post in 2004. She backed Manmohan Singh for the PM post and even Pranab Mukherjee for the presidency. Rahul could've been PM or minister in 2009, but chose to work as a common party worker—fighting for the poor, OBCs, Dalits, and Adivasis. " Revanth warned that the BJP's true agenda is to dismantle the reservation system and undermine the Constitution. "Only Congress stands between the BJP and their plan to erase social justice. Rahul will not only remove Modi but also protect the Constitution and uphold 42% reservations for OBCs by conducting a national caste census," he claimed. Highlighting the Telangana model, he said the Congress govt had already conducted a caste survey in line with Rahul's commitment. "We've shown the way. This is the model for the rest of India," he said. Taking a swipe at critics who question Congress's legacy, Revanth reminded them, "Congress gave India independence, the Constitution, and reservations. What was the BJP doing then? Parties like BRS, BJD, RJD, and even BJP came after independence. The Congress was already fighting for freedom." In a resounding call to action, he urged the Congress cadre community to gear up for a decisive political and constitutional battle. "The time has come. The Constitution, which is under threat now, will also be protected," Revanth said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
