Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has ignited a fresh controversy by alleging that the Congress party orchestrated a conspiracy during the investigation into the 2008 Malegaon blast case, with the intent to frame Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. Sarma made these claims in the wake of a special court's decision to acquit all seven accused in the case, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Prasad Purohit.
Addressing a press conference on Friday, August 1, 2025, Sarma asserted that the Malegaon investigation was a "political witch hunt" led by P. Chidambaram, who was the Home Minister at the time. He stated that the Congress party had a "known conspiracy" to implicate Bhagwat in the matter and defame the RSS and the Hindu religion. With the acquittal of all the accused due to lack of reliable evidence, Sarma believes the party has been exposed.
Sarma went on to say that Chidambaram should be questioned regarding why he "tried to frame the Hindu society with terror" and that the people should pose this question to him. He further argued that the verdict proves there is no such thing as "Hindu terror" and that "no Hindu by philosophy can be a terrorist". Sarma has also stated that the term 'Hindu terror' was coined by the Congress government to appease a particular community.
The 2008 Malegaon blast case pertains to an incident that occurred on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra, resulting in six fatalities and injuries to over 100 individuals. Following a 17-year legal battle, a special court acquitted all seven accused, citing a lack of "reliable and cogent evidence" against them. Special Judge A.K. Lahoti, who presided over the case, stated that no religion advocates violence and that terrorism is devoid of religious affiliation, emphasizing that convictions cannot be based solely on perception.
The recent court verdict has triggered a wave of political reactions. While BJP leaders have echoed Sarma's sentiments, accusing the Congress of fabricating the "Hindu terror" narrative and demanding an apology, opposition parties have criticized the investigation and questioned the role of the National Investigation Agency (NIA). AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi alleged that the investigation was deliberately weakened and questioned whether the state would appeal the verdict. Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, on the other hand, has maintained that terrorism should not be linked to any religion.
The victims' families intend to challenge the acquittal in a higher court, with their lawyer stating that if the acquitted individuals are not guilty, the real perpetrators remain at large. The lawyer representing the victims' families said he would challenge the acquittal in the high court. “Six people died and over 100 were injured. If these people are not guilty, then who is?” he asked.
Meanwhile, the NIA court has ordered an inquiry into the conduct of an ATS officer who is alleged to have planted fake evidence in the case. The judge acknowledged that, during its investigation, the NIA referenced statements from an army major and a subedar. Both individuals stated that when Chaturvedi was away from home, Bagde quietly entered his residence and hid evidence of RDX there.
The political ramifications of the Malegaon blast case acquittal are likely to continue to reverberate, especially with figures from the ruling party claiming a conspiracy to defame Hinduism.
