AIMIM president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly condemned the acquittal of all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, terming it a “grave miscarriage of justice” and a result of a “deliberately weak” investigation and prosecution, reported the Maktoob Media.
Taking to social media platform X, Owaisi expressed his anguish, stating, “The verdict is deeply disappointing. Six namazis were killed and nearly 100 injured. They were targeted for their faith. Who killed these six people?”
The special NIA court on Thursday acquitted all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, citing lack of sufficient evidence.
Owaisi questioned the BJP governments at the Centre and in Maharashtra on whether they would appeal the verdict with the same urgency shown in the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts case. “Will Modi and Fadnavis governments appeal this judgment as swiftly as they sought a stay on the train blast acquittals? Will Maharashtra’s so-called secular parties demand justice?” he asked.
The MP also highlighted serious irregularities that had plagued the case. “Let us not forget that in 2016, the special public prosecutor Rohini Salian revealed that she was asked by the NIA to ‘go soft’ on the accused. And in 2017, the NIA attempted to get Sadhvi Pragya acquitted—who later became a BJP MP in 2019.”
Owaisi further mentioned the role of former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who initially investigated the conspiracy and was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. “She (Sadhvi Pragya) even claimed her curse caused Karkare’s death. That’s the level of insensitivity we’re dealing with,” he remarked.
“Will the officers from NIA and ATS ever be held accountable for this faulty investigation? I think we know the answer. This is the Modi government that claims to be ‘tough on terror,’” he added sarcastically.
Owaisi concluded by saying, “History will remember that a terror accused became a Member of Parliament in India.”
Meanwhile, the victims’ families are preparing to challenge the acquittal in the High Court. Advocate Shahid Nadeem, representing the families, told ANI, “The bomb blast has been proved in court. We will independently appeal against this acquittal in the High Court.”
