New Delhi: Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, has been promoted to the rank of Colonel, igniting fresh controversy. Purohit, BJP MP Pragya Thakur, and five others were acquitted by a special NIA court on July 31, a verdict that has drawn sharp criticism nationwide.
Union Textile Minister Giriraj Singh hailed the promotion, posting on X: “Congratulations Col Purohit on being back in uniform. The government stands firmly with patriots who serve the nation with courage and integrity.” However, families of the blast victims, who have challenged the acquittal in the Bombay High Court, say justice remains elusive even after 17 years.
Purohit, who earlier served in counter-terrorism units in Jammu and Kashmir and later in Military Intelligence, was accused of raising funds and procuring explosives through the extremist outfit Abhinav Bharat. The NIA noted that he drafted a separate “Constitution for Hindu Rashtra” and discussed revenge against Muslims, though the court held insufficient evidence for conviction.
The promotion comes despite a 17-year Discipline and Vigilance ban imposed after his arrest. Critics point to selective legal action by the Maharashtra government, which refrained from challenging Purohit’s acquittal in the Supreme Court but promptly moved against the Bombay High Court’s acquittal of 12 Muslims in the 2006 Mumbai train blasts case.
The decision has reignited debates on judicial bias, state accountability, and the government’s handling of terror cases, with many arguing the promotion undermines the victims’ pursuit of justice.
