17-Year Trial Ends: Sadhvi Pragya, 6 Others are Acquitted in Malegaon Blast Case

Court cites lack of evidence, faulty application of UAPA provisions

Maharashtra: The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a criminal conspiracy, citing lack of concrete evidence and procedural lapses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The blast, which occurred on 29 September 2008 near Bhikku Chowk in the communally sensitive town of Malegaon, Maharashtra, claimed six lives and injured over 100. The case had drawn nationwide attention due to the alleged involvement of Hindu right-wing individuals, leading to a polarising debate on “Hindu terror.”

Seventeen Years, Four Agencies, 323 Witnesses
The trial, one of the longest-running in recent Indian legal history, saw investigations led by four different agencies. Originally probed by Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011. Over 323 witnesses were examined during the proceedings.

In its ruling, the court observed that no planning meetings or conspiracy could be conclusively established and stated that “suspicion cannot be the basis for conviction.” The judge also noted flaws in how UAPA provisions were applied, calling them “defective and invalid.”

The verdict brings legal closure to a politically charged case that spanned nearly two decades and stirred national debate on terrorism, justice, and religious identity in India.