Lt Col Purohit gets warm welcome as he returns home after acquittal in Malegaon blast case

Mumbai: Amid beating of dhol-tasha and chants of ‘Jai Shree Ram’ and ‘Sanatan Dharma ki jai’, Lt Col Prasad Purohit was given a grand welcome as he entered his Pune home on Sunday days after the former Military Intelligence officer was acquitted in the 2008 September Malegaon blast case.

Col Purohit was posted at the Army Education Corps Training College and Centre in Pachmarhi in Madhya Pradesh, when he was arrested by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra police.

As he retired home in an open vehicle it was an emotional moment as people cheered for him.

A board ‘Welcome Kaka’ could also be seen.

People waited and shook hands with Col Purohit, who donned a white shirt and saffron pheta and was accompanied by his wife Aparna Purohit and other family members.

As he reached his home, some people also sounded a bugle.

Col Purohit Shantisheela Housing Society located on the Law College Road in Pune.

He also performed puja at the Hanuman temple of the locality before entering home.

“This is where I was born and brought up. If you see some good qualities in me, it is because of the culture of this society, which has taught me. It is because of the decision of the honourable court that I am here,” he said.

“I am overwhelmed by the welcome I have received, and there is nothing unnatural in it. It all depends on destiny, and I am a forward-looking person. I am grateful,” he said, however, refused to get into the details of the case.

“Truth is always the source of power. We knew that this was something that was wrong that was going on. I am not saying this just because he is my husband,” Aparna Purohit said.

“I am really overwhelmed with the amazing welcome that we got here. It was absolutely unexpected; we didn't expect all this...It was extremely difficult, but we always got love from our near and dear ones...There was always a lot of support here...I am glad this is over. Leading a normal life is my plan now...Truth is always the source of power,” she added.

In 1994, Col Purohit was commissioned into the Maratha Light Infantry after passing out of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai.

He served in counter-terrorism operations in Jammu & Kashmir from 2002 to 2005 and also in the intelligence wing.

Col Purohit was accused of being part of the Malegaon blast conspiracy and providing RDX, however, the court acquitted him.