The promotion of Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit to the rank of colonel has stirred debate, given his long association with the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Purohit, along with six others including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, was acquitted by a special NIA court on July 31, 2025, which said the prosecution failed to present credible evidence. “Mere suspicion cannot replace proof,” the court had observed.
Purohit’s promotion comes after 17 years under a career freeze caused by the Discipline and Vigilance ban following his arrest. While his acquittal cleared the way, critics argue that the step feels hasty, given the serious allegations once levelled against him. Families of the Malegaon victims have challenged the acquittal in the Bombay High Court. “This is a wrong and bad decision in law,” the petition said. The High Court has now issued notices to all seven acquitted, the NIA, and the Maharashtra government.
The controversy has deepened because the Maharashtra government did not appeal to the Supreme Court against Purohit’s acquittal, though it moved quickly to challenge a Bombay High Court order acquitting 12 Muslims in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts. Observers point to a troubling double standard, noting that the saffron lobby openly celebrated Purohit’s promotion. Union minister Giriraj Singh and BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari praised the decision, with Bhandari accusing Congress of blocking Purohit’s rightful promotions.
The 2008 Malegaon blast killed seven Muslims and injured over 100. Investigators initially linked it to the Hindutva group Abhinav Bharat, which Purohit was accused of founding. The NIA once claimed he helped draft a “constitution” for a Hindu Rashtra and discussed revenge against Muslims. However, as the case dragged on, witnesses turned hostile and evidence was challenged.
In 2015, special prosecutor Rohini Salian revealed she was asked to “go soft” on the case after the BJP came to power. For many, this disclosure still hangs over the trial’s credibility.
Now, as the Bombay High Court prepares to review the acquittal, the future of Purohit, set to retire next year, remains uncertain. For the victims’ families, justice is still pending.
