The special NIA court in Mumbai has delivered its verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, acquitting all seven accused, including BJP Member of Parliament Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi, and Sameer Kulkarni.
The families of those who lost their loved ones in the blast have expressed deep disappointment over the verdict. Speaking to Aaj Tak, the father of Syed Azhar Syed Nisar, one of the victims, said,
“Even after 17 years, we have not received justice. The court has dismissed all the evidence. We will appeal this decision in the higher court. Innocent lives were lost in this attack.”
Another victim was Farheen alias Shagufta Shaikh Liaqat, a 10-year-old girl who had gone to buy pav (bread) from Bhikku Chowk and never returned. Her father Liaqat Shaikh said that when the blast happened, he was worried but hoped his daughter would return. Instead, he received the devastating news of her death.
“They didn’t even allow me and my wife to see her one last time,” he added, holding on to a small photo of his daughter. “I had hoped for justice all these years, but today I am shattered by the verdict.”
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According to a report by ABP News, Advocate Shahid Nadeem, who represents the families of the victims, said:
“The court has acknowledged that a bomb blast did take place. We will challenge the acquittal in the High Court. We will independently file an appeal.”
The Malegaon blast occurred on 29 September 2008, in Bhikku Chowk, Malegaon, Maharashtra, during the holy month of Ramadan. The explosion shook the city, killing several people and injuring many. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously requested the death penalty for the accused, including Pragya Singh Thakur. The acquittal, therefore, came as a shock to many who had been waiting for justice for 17 years.
The deceased in the blast included:
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Farheen alias Shagufta Liaqat
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Sheikh Mushtaq Yusuf
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Sheikh Rafiq Mustafa
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Irfan Ziaullah Khan
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Syed Azhar Syed Nisar
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Haroon Shah Mohammad Shah
The victims’ families are now determined to seek justice in the High Court, hoping for a reversal of what they view as a grave miscarriage of justice.
