Unraveling Malegaon Acquittals: Systemic Investigative Failures

• The 2008 Malegaon blast, a terror act, was initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) as a conspiracy by Hindutva extremists.

• The case was politically fraught, with the ATS attempting to identify perpetrators irrespective of religion.

• The case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which filed a supplementary charge sheet.

• A Special Court ruled in 2018 that a full trial was the best course, leading to the final acquittal of all accused, including Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit and Pragya Singh Thakur.

• The court exposed unreliable evidence, including hostile testimony and inadmissible electronic transcripts.

• The court rejected the defense of Purohit, who argued he was a military intelligence officer infiltrating the group.

• The acquittal reveals the failure of state agencies to prevent extremist organizations from committing heinous crimes.

• The acquittal reveals the danger of a single religious face in terror and the need for a competent policing, prosecution, and justice system.