Malegaon blast cases: Two decades, two terror attacks and zero convictions

Nearly two decades after two terror strikes within two years, the communally sensitive, Muslim-majority powerloom town of Malegaon still awaits justice, with zero convictions and a complex puzzle that remains unsolved. The discharge and acquittals in the two cases—delivered within a year—have weakened the once-prominent ‘Hindu terror’ or ‘saffron terror’ narrative, even as they raise deeper questions
about the integrity and direction of the investigations.

Twenty years on, the twin attacks that scarred Malegaon in 2006 and 2008 have left more questions than answers, putting the spotlight on investigative agencies and the judicial system. The cases rank among the most politically and communally sensitive terror probes in recent Indian history.

They have seen dramatic twists and turns, illustrating how regime changes, competing narratives, multiple agencies, and procedural lapses can derail even the most serious criminal prosecutions. Over time, the cases were probed by the Nashik Rural Police, the Maharashtra Police’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and later the National Investigation Agency (NIA), reflecting a fragmented and evolving investigation.

Spread across 68 sq km, Malegaon, a tehsil town in Nashik district about 290 km from Mumbai, is known for its textile units and industrial activity. With a population of around five lakh, it has long been communally sensitive.

The two terror strikes

Malegaon-I: On September 8, 2006, during Shab-e-Baraat, three blasts at Bada Kabrastan, Mushawrat Chowk and Hamidiya Masjid killed 37 people and injured over 312. ATS carried out the initial investigations before the case was handed over to the CBI and subsequently to the NIA after its formation. The suspected involvement of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), with alleged support from Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, formed the early line of investigation.

Malegaon-II: On September 29, 2008, on the eve of Navratri during Ramzan, a blast near Bhikkhu Chowk killed six
people and injured 101. The ATS led the initial probe, later joined by the NIA. In contrast to 2006, suspicion shifted to Hindu fundamentalist groups such as Abhinav Bharat, marking a sharp change in the investigative narrative.

Soon after the 2008 Malegaon blast, Mumbai witnessed the Pakistan-sponsored fidayeen attack of November 26–29, 2008. Among those killed was Special Inspector General of Police and ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who had been closely monitoring the Malegaon probe. His death cast a
long shadow over the future course of the investigation.

Malegaon-I - 13 accused discharged: Within days of the 2006 blast, the ATS arrested several alleged SIMI operatives. The CBI, after taking over the case, filed additional charge sheets to strengthen the prosecution. Some of the accused were also suspected to have links with the July 11, 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings (7/11), as well as the Aurangabad arms and RDX haul case, indicating a possible wider terror network. However, the probe took a dramatic turn in April 2010 following the arrest of Swami Aseemanand, whose confession suggested an alternative conspiracy involving Sunil Joshi, who had been murdered in Madhya Pradesh in 2007.

In 2011, the NIA arrested four more accused, all of whom were granted bail in 2019. In a significant development, on April 22, 2026, a division bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Shyam C Chandak set aside the September 30, 2025 order of the NIA court that had framed charges against them, leading to their discharge. This ruling has effectively brought the 2006 case to a close.

Malegaon-II - Seven acquitted, five discharged: Following the 2008 blast, remarks by certain Congress leaders referring to ‘saffron terrorism’ triggered intense political debate and sharp criticism from the BJP and allied organisations. The case soon became a flashpoint in national politics.

On July 31, 2025, Special NIA Judge Abhay Lahoti acquitted seven accused — citing lack of evidence — including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, former Military Intelligence officer Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi alias Dayanand Pandey, Maj Ramesh Upadhyaya (retd), Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, and Sudhakar Onkarnath Chaturvedi.

Earlier, in 2017, five other accused — Shivnarayan Kalsangra, Shyamlal Sahu, Pravin Takalki alias Mutalik, Rakesh Dattatreya Dhawade, and Jagdish Chintaman Mhatre — had been discharged. Meanwhile, two key suspects, Ramji Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange, believed to have planted the bomb, remain absconding. Investigators were also unable to conclusively link the LML Freedom motorcycle used in the blast to Pragya Singh Thakur, weakening a crucial piece of evidence.

With both the Malegaon-I and Malegaon-II cases now effectively closed, a fundamental question persists: who carried out the attacks? The shifting course of investigations, marked by changes in agencies, evolving theories, and inconsistent evidence, appears to have contributed significantly to the collapse of both cases.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.