Bench Bombay High Court, September 16, 2025, tried to know whether the family members were investigated as witnesses in court proceedings. File | Photo Credit: Vivek Bendre
On Tuesday, the High Court emphasized that the submission of appeal against exemption in Malegaon Blast in 2008 “not open invitations for all”, seeking the clarity of the role of the petitioners in court proceedings.
The divisional bench of the chief judge Shree Chandrashekhar and the Justice Gautam Ankhad heard the appeal filed on 2 September 2025 six relatives who died at the explosion, and questioned the liberation of seven accused, including former BJP of Pragy Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohita.
Watch | 2008 Malegaon Blast Case: Special Nia Court liberate everything, including Pragya Thakur
The bench asked the petitioner to explain their locus standi, their relationship with the deceased and whether they were examined as witnesses during the trial. Defenders Mateen Shaikh and Shahid Nada, who appear for families, said that some petitioners actually testified and promised to submit documents confirming this on Wednesday (September 17). The bench told them to “meet” and present all the details of the record.
The appeal states that all petitioners are permanent residents of Malegaon and direct relatives killed in the explosion and qualify as “victims” under Bharatiya Nagarik Surraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS). Therefore, they are entitled to file an appeal pursuant to Section 413 BNSS Reading with Section 21 of the NIA Act. The petition points out that the court of court had previously allowed them to intervene and file written statements, which shows that they were not outsiders of the proceedings.
The petitioners include: Nisar Ahmed, whose son Sayyed Azahar died in an explosion; Shaikh Liyaqat, whose daughter Shaikh Farheen was killed; Shaikh Ishaque, who lost his brother Shaikh Mushtaque; Usman Khan, whose nephew Irfan Khan died; Mushtaque Shah, whose father Haroon Shah was killed; and Shaikh Ibrahim, whose brother -in -law Shaikh Rafique died in an explosion.
Also read | 2008 Malegaon Blast: Who was charged? A short time plan of the case
The appeal also claimed that the shortcomings in the investigation could not justify the liberation and emphasize that the conspiracy was carried out in secrecy, leaving little space for direct evidence. She claimed that NIA had diluted this case and undermined the findings of ATS (ATS), which initially discovered a conspiracy.
He also pointed to forensic evidence connecting explosives and motorcycle with Mrs Thakura, missing documents and electronic records, and alleged meetings of the accused under the auspices of Abhinava Bharat, allegedly created by Mr. Purohit to devote herself to the idea of ”Hindu Rashtra”.
The families said that the Court did not question witnesses or summoned individuals when the prosecution fell as “post office” and allowed the gaps to benefit the defendant.
The Bhiku Chowk explosion in the Malgaon’s Nashik district killed six people and injured more than 100 during the Holy Moon. The families of the victims said that liberation only deepened their grief and expressed the hope that the High Court would ensure justice.
The thing will be heard next 17th. September.
Published – 16 September 2025 02:21
