New Delhi [India], July 31: After the NIA court acquitted all the accused in the 2008 Malegaon Blast case, BJP MP Manan Kumar Mishra said Congress had spread a false narrative, which has been exposed today.
Speaking to ANI, Mishra said, "Congress had spread a false narrative, and today it has all come to light. This was bound to happen. The lie of 'Hindu terrorism' that Congress was spreading has been exposed today."
Former MP Sadhvi Pragya, who was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, expressed happiness over the Mumbai NIA special court's verdict, stating that "Bhagwa and Hindutva have won" and the real culprits in the blasts that killed six people and injured 95 others will be punished.
Speaking at the Court, Pragya said, "Bhagwa was defamed by them through a conspiracy, today Bhagwa has won and Hindutva has won, and those who are guilty will be punished by God. But those who defamed India and Bhagwa both have not been proved wrong by you. I thank you, sir (to Judge Abhay Lohati)," Pragya said as she openly wept after the verdict."
"I said from the very beginning that those who are called for investigation, there should be a basis behind that. I was called by them for investigation and was arrested and tortured. This ruined my whole life. I was living a sage's life, but I was made and accused, and no one was willingly standing beside us. I am alive because I am a sanyasi, I am living my life with dying every day," she added.
The 2008 Malegaon blast case was transferred to the NIA in 2011 from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). After a 17-year-long wait, examination of hundreds of witnesses, the NIA special court today acquitted all seven people accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and all other charges.
Meanwhile, Security had been heightened around the NIA court before the verdict. Visuals from the Mumbai Special NIA court showed people standing outside, awaiting the court's verdict. Notably, the witnesses had also come to the court to watch the announcement.
On September 29 2008, six people were killed and 95 others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City's Bhikku Chowk. Originally, 11 people were accused in the case; however, the court ultimately framed charges against 7, including former MP Sadhvi Pragya.