Soon after a special court headed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) discharged all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, including former BJP parliamentarian Pragya Singh Thakur, aka Sadhvi Pragya, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis made a strong statement, stating that terrorism had nothing to do with the saffron identity.
The suspects were charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for their suspected involvement in the blast that took place almost 16 years ago. Sadhvi Pragya said that the case was an intentional conspiracy to defame the "Bhagwa" or saffron image.
Reiterating the judgment of the court, BJP chief and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "Terrorism was never saffron, is not, and will never be!"
Recalling her prolonged legal struggle, Pragya Thakur remembered the agony she had faced. "I was summoned by them for inquiry and was arrested and tortured. This devastated my entire life. I was leading a sage's life, but I was made an accused, and no one was volunteering to stand with us," she said.
The blast took place on September 29, 2008, when a bomb-rigged motorcycle exploded close to a mosque in Malegaon, Nashik district. The strike, which occurred during the sacred month of Ramzan and just before the Navratri celebrations, killed six individuals and injured several others.
Referring to the evidence in criminal cases, the NIA court highlighted the significance of evidence in criminal courts. "Terrorism has no religion because no religion can support violence. The Court cannot convict anyone based on perception and moral evidence; there must be cogent evidence," the court noted while handing down the acquittal.
The verdict was greeted with elation by the relatives of the accused. Sadhvi Pragya's sister, Upma Singh, was thankful and proud of the verdict. "My whole family and I are extremely happy. I would like to congratulate the whole nation, all Hindutva, and Sanatan Dharma," she said.
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