Team News Riveting
Pune, September 24
After a long legal battle, Prasad Shrikant Purohit has been promoted to colonel rank days after his acquittal in 2008 Malegaon blast case.
Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit was promoted to full Colonel in a ceremony at an Army unit in Pune on Thursday.
The Mumbai court acquitted him and six others, stating that the prosecution was unable to prove the charges against them beyond a reasonable doubt. They were arrested in connection with Malegaon blast that took place on September 29, 2008. The blast that took blast near a mosque resulted in the deaths of six individuals and left 101 others injured.
Initially, 14 people were arrested in connection with the incident but only seven were ultimately brought to trial. Purohit was then Lt. Colonel.
All the seven accused, including Shrikant Purohit and BJP leaders Pragya Singh Thakur, were acquitted by an NIA court on July 31 this year. Other accused who were liberated include Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi (Shankaracharya) and Sameer Kulkarni.
Purohit, who spent nearly nine years in prison before bail in 2017, is set to retire in March 2026.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh has congratulated Purohit on his promotion, hailing him as a patriot. “Congratulations Col. Purohit on being back in uniform.The Govt stands firmly with patriots who serve the nation with courage and integrity,” he posted on X.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said Purohit finally got justice after facing ‘harassment’ for over 17 years. He also rebuked the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, saying their ‘appeasement’ politics hampered the rise of Purohit.
“After 17 yrs of harassment & 8 yrs in jail without evidence, Lt Col Shrikant Purohit is finally restored as Colonel. But because of Rahul Gandhi & Congress’ anti-Hindu agenda, a brilliant officer was denied his rightful rise to Major General. For Congress, its appeasement first, National pride last,” he posted on X.
