Nineteen years after a series of bomb blasts rocked Malegaon, a special court in Mumbai has framed charges against four accused, setting the stage for the trial to finally commence. The blasts, which occurred on September 8, 2006, claimed the lives of 31 people and injured over 300.
The accused—Lokesh Sharma, Dhan Singh, Rajendra Chaudhary, and Manohar Narwaria— appeared before Special Judge C.S. Baviskar and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The charges include criminal conspiracy, murder, and offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The next hearing is scheduled for October 29.
The case has had a long and complex history, marked by multiple investigations and conflicting findings. Initially, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) implicated 13 Muslim men, alleging their involvement with the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). However, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation in 2011 and arrested the four individuals who were recently charged. In 2016, all charges against the originally accused Muslim men were dropped.
The NIA's chargesheet alleges that the four accused belonged to a group that conspired to cause blasts in Muslim areas of Malegaon with the intention of causing death, injuries, property damage, and riots. The agency claims the accused planned the conspiracy in Madhya Pradesh, where they also received training in arms and bomb-making. The NIA further alleges that the accused had specific roles, from purchasing bicycles to fitting and transporting them to the blast sites. According to the NIA, the accused conducted reconnaissance of the area multiple times before planting the bombs. On the day of the blasts, Rajendra Chaudhary and Manohar Narwaria allegedly purchased two bicycles, and the bombs were placed at various locations, detonating between 1:45 pm and 2:00 pm.
Adding another layer to the case, Swami Aseemanand, an accused in the Mecca Masjid bomb blast case, allegedly confessed that Sunil Joshi, an RSS functionary, told him that the Malegaon blasts were carried out by "his boys". Aseemanand further claimed that a meeting was held in June 2006, where it was suggested that Malegaon, with its large Muslim population, should be targeted.
In related developments, a special NIA court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on July 31, 2025, including Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit. The court cited inconsistencies in the prosecution's evidence and stated that the benefit of doubt was extended to the accused.
The framing of charges against the four accused in the 2006 Malegaon blast case marks a significant step forward after nearly two decades. The trial is now set to proceed, with the next hearing scheduled for October 29.
