Terror Trial of a Former Indian MP Primarily Happened While She Was Not Present
In a dramatic turn of events, Pragya Thakur, a prominent Hindu nationalist activist, has been acquitted in the Malegaon blast case that took place in September 2008. The verdict marks the end of one of the longest-running terrorism trials in India.
Thakur, who was the most high-profile of the seven people arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the blast, has been notably absent for most of the trial, citing medical reasons. She has claimed that her absences were due to conditions caused by "torture" while in custody of the ATS.
The court granted exemptions to Thakur's court appearance based on her lawyers' arguments that she needed to attend parliamentary sessions. However, on Nov. 5, 2024, the judge rejected an application by Thakur's lawyers to exempt her from court yet again and issued a bailable warrant of 10,000 Indian Rupees for Thakur, stating that her presence "is necessary".
The blast, which occurred in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killed six people and injured over a hundred others. The prosecution could not prove that the bomb was fitted to a motorcycle or that it belonged to Thakur. All of the accused have been acquitted.
Thakur reportedly told the judge that the investigation had "ruined [her] life" and that she had been "arrested and tortured" by investigators. When yet another application was filed for similar reasons on Sept. 30, the judge warned that Thakur should appear by Oct. 3, or a court order would be issued.
Despite her absences, Thakur was recorded as present at all 161 hearings after final arguments began through her advocates. On Sept. 18, Thakur's lawyers filed another application saying that she had been moved from a hospital in Bhopal to one in Meerut, in the neighboring Uttar Pradesh state.
The advocate for the victims' families has reportedly vowed to challenge the acquittals in India's High Court. Thakur hailed her acquittal as a "victory of Hindutva". A week after this application, a local BJP leader posted a video of Thakur attending a groundbreaking ceremony for a temple in Bhopal on Instagram, but the date and whether it was during the period Thakur's lawyers said she was seriously ill is unverified.
The search results do not provide any information about the personal assistant of Pragya Chandrapalsingh Thakur or a named contact person for her in the NIA special court records. The judge also said the next month that Thakur's presence was necessary for the final arguments.
This acquittal is a significant development in the Malegaon blast case, and the aftermath is likely to be closely watched by both supporters and critics of Thakur and her political ideology.
