After 17 years of legal battle, Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit finally walked free in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. On Thursday, he addressed the media outside the special NIA court in Mumbai. He expressed relief, gratitude, and strong patriotic commitment.

“I am a soldier who loves this country immensely,” he said, with emotion in his voice.

After Acquittal, He Thanks Court and Nation

First, Purohit thanked the judiciary for giving him a fair hearing. Then, he declared, “My conviction never changed. Now I will again serve the nation with the same dedication.”

Although he spent nearly nine years in jail before getting bail in 2017, he showed no bitterness. Instead, he chose to remain optimistic. He said, “Organisations are like sick parts of the body, no one should suffer. I have no complaint against anyone. The nation must be strong, its foundations must be firm. Jai Hind.”

He Says Case Was Politically Driven

Meanwhile, Purohit strongly criticised those behind the case. He said, “I have been victimised by mentally disturbed and sick individuals. Some people misused their authority, and we had to endure it.”

Earlier, he was accused of being part of the 2008 Malegaon blast that killed six and injured over 100 people. Throughout the case, he maintained his innocence.

Court Says There Was No Evidence

Eventually, the court ruled in his favour. It stated there was no reliable evidence against him or the other six accused. The court said the prosecution failed to prove charges under the UAPA and other serious laws.

In its statement, the court added, “No evidence indicating Purohit prepared the bomb.”

Investigation Had Major Flaws

According to the court, the bomb was most likely placed outside the motorcycle—not inside it, as claimed earlier. Furthermore, the court noted tampering in medical certificates used in the case.

Moreover, there was no proof that RDX was ever stored, transported, or found in Purohit’s house. The court also found no link between him and the making of the bomb.

In addition, the panchnama—or the official site record—was not done properly. Experts were not involved in the investigation. As a result, the crime scene got contaminated, and forensic evidence turned out to be weak.

All Accused Walk Free

Because of these gaps in the investigation, the court gave the benefit of the doubt to all the accused. As a result, all seven were acquitted.