A special court in India is set to announce a decision on the Malegaon bomb blast case from September 2008 on July 31. This case, which involves seven people, has been ongoing for many years. The judge, AK Lahoti, needed more time to look over everything before making a decision. The final arguments from both sides were wrapped up by April 19, and now the judge has been given extra time until August 31 just to deliver the verdict.
The tragic incident happened when two bombs hidden in motorcycles went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai, during Ramadan. Six people lost their lives, and 101 were hurt. Initially, police arrested Muslim youths in connection with the incident, but further investigations showed links to Hindu groups, changing the direction of the inquiry. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) believes this attack was meant to stir up communal violence.
The accused in the case include Pragya Singh Thakur, a former politician, and several other military and civilian men. They face serious charges like murder and conspiracy under various laws. The special public prosecutor, Avinash Rasal, presented strong evidence against them, claiming that they planned the attack to create division among communities. He suggested that the punishment should be severe, even the death penalty.
On the other hand, the defense lawyer, Shrikant Shivade, argued that the case is influenced by politics and claimed that important evidence is unreliable. He also pointed out that some witnesses changed their stories, which raised doubts about the prosecution’s claims.
Survivors and victims’ families are frustrated by the long wait for justice and are calling for the harshest possible punishment for the accused, insisting that the charges are proven. The trial, which began in October 2018, saw many witnesses testify and all sides have had their say. The final witness statements for the defense were completed in July 2024.
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