Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit is an Indian Army officer who was a central figure in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. On September 29, 2008, a bomb exploded near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring over 100.
At the time of his arrest, Purohit was serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in military intelligence. In November 2008, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested him for allegedly being part of the conspiracy that led to the blast. This arrest marked the first time a serving army officer had been implicated in a terrorism-related case in the country.
The ATS, led by Hemant Karkare, claimed the blast was carried out by individuals linked to right-wing Hindu extremist groups. The ATS arrested Sadhvi Pragya, whose motorcycle was allegedly used in the blast.
Purohit spent nearly nine years in custody before being granted bail by the Supreme Court in September 2017. He was arrested for allegedly masterminding the blasts. Purohit and the other accused were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including sections related to committing and conspiring to commit a terrorist act, murder, and promoting enmity between religious groups.
The case against him and others became politically and socially contentious, especially after the term "Hindu terror" entered the public discourse. Purohit claimed this phrase was first used shortly before the blast by a political party leader, suggesting a narrative was being framed even before the event.
In his final statement before a special NIA court, Purohit denied all charges, calling the entire case a fabrication. He alleged that senior officers of the ATS tortured him physically and mentally during his illegal detention in Khandala, where he claims he was treated “worse than a prisoner of war”. He also alleged that he was pressured to name prominent leaders from right-wing organisations like the RSS and VHP, including now-Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. Purohit claimed that false evidence, including RDX, was planted to implicate him. According to his court statement, witnesses were coerced, threatened at gunpoint, and tortured into giving false testimony.
On July 31, 2025, a Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including Lt Col Prasad Purohit and former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur. The court cited a lack of "reliable and cogent" evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Special Judge A K Lahoti highlighted multiple gaps in the prosecution's case and said the accused deserved the benefit of the doubt. The court held that while a blast did occur and resulted in deaths, there was no proof that the bomb was planted on the recovered motorcycle. It also noted that there was no evidence linking Lt Col Purohit to the storage or sourcing of RDX. The court observed that the blast site was not properly barricaded after the incident, resulting in contamination of the crime scene. The court also noted discrepancies in the number of injured persons.
Following the acquittal, Purohit addressed the court, thanking the judge for a fair opportunity to clear his name and return to serve the nation. He stated that his resolve to serve never changed, and he was grateful for the chance to serve his organisation and country once more. Purohit described his ordeal, stating, “I am a victim of mentally ill people". He added that “some people misused our power, we had to bear it,” and concluded his statement with a firm “Jai Hind.”
The court also announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh to each deceased victim's family and Rs 50,000 to each injured person.
