Malegaon Blast Verdict: Maharashtra Leaders Welcome Acquittal, Denounce ‘Saffron Terrorism’ Label

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday welcomed the verdict in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, in which all seven accused were acquitted by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai. He asserted that terrorism can never be associated with any religion or ideology.

“Terrorism was never saffron and will never be,” Fadnavis remarked, responding to the court’s judgment that cleared all accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Colonel Prasad Purohit, of all charges.

Echoing similar sentiments, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hailed the verdict and criticized the previous administration for what he described as politically motivated narratives.

“We welcome the court’s decision. When blasts were occurring across the country, the then government maintained that terrorism had no religion. Yet in the Malegaon case, they coined the term ‘saffron terrorism’. This verdict is a strong rebuttal to those who sought to politicize the tragedy,” Shinde said.

The case stems from a deadly explosion on September 29, 2008, when a bomb concealed on a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon, a town located approximately 200 kilometers from Mumbai. The blast claimed six lives and left over 100 people injured.

After nearly 17 years of legal proceedings, the special NIA court concluded on Thursday that there was “no reliable and cogent evidence” to support the prosecution’s case against the accused, leading to their acquittal.

The verdict has reignited a broader political debate over the use of religious labels in terrorism cases, with state leaders calling for a more impartial and evidence-based approach to justice.