Malegaon Blast Case: Lt Col Purohit Promoted to Colonel; BJP Calls Congress ‘Anti-Hindu’ for Career Setback

Mumbai: BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has accused Rahul Gandhi and the Congress of pushing an “anti-Hindu agenda” after the Indian Army elevated Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit to the rank of Colonel. Posting on X, Bhandari said the officer endured 17 years of harassment and eight years in jail before receiving a promotion that had long been overdue.

A National Investigation Agency (NIA) special court on 31 July cleared all seven defendants including Purohit in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast, one of the country’s longest-running terror cases.

Background of the 2008 Attack
Around 9:30 pm on 29 September 2008, a device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near Hamidia Masjid in Malegaon, a communally sensitive textile hub in Maharashtra’s Nashik district. Six people were killed and 101 injured. The Maharashtra Police Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) initially led the probe before handing it to the NIA in 2011.

Investigators alleged that Purohit was linked to Abhinav Bharat, a trust said to promote Hindu ideals but allegedly used as a front for plotting attacks on Muslims. He was accused of helping raise funds for arms and explosives and of attending meetings where the bombing was planned.

Lengthy Legal Battle
For nearly two decades, Purohit’s career and reputation remained under a cloud. Supporters claim political and ideological forces singled him out, but the NIA court’s verdict finally exonerated him.

Despite his acquittal, the prolonged trial stalled his ascent in the Army. Defence sources say uninterrupted service could have seen him reach Major General, a rank commonly attained after 25-30 years of distinguished duty. Instead, Purohit now reinstated as Colonel will retire in March 2026, closing a chapter marked by courtroom battles and public debate.