NewKerala.com

Lt Col Purohit Cleared for Brigadier Rank After AFT Relief, Malegaon Acquittal

The Indian Army has cleared Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to Brigadier. This follows the Armed Forces Tribunal staying his scheduled retirement while hearing his plea for promotion, which he argued was hindered by the prolonged Malegaon blast trial. Purohit was acquitted in July 2024 by a Mumbai NIA court, which found the prosecution's case insufficient. The 2008 blast in Maharashtra killed six people and injured nearly a hundred.

Key Points: Army Clears Lt Col Purohit for Brigadier After AFT Stay

  • Promotion cleared after AFT relief
  • Career affected by Malegaon trial
  • Acquitted in 2008 blast case
  • Case involved 17-year investigation
  • Blast killed 6, injured 95
2 min read

Indian Army clears Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit for Brigadier rank after AFT relief

Indian Army promotes Lt Col Prasad Purohit to Brigadier after AFT stays retirement and his acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

"prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt - Mumbai NIA Court"

New Delhi, April 10

The Indian Army has cleared Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier, sources said on Friday.

The development comes shortly after the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) stayed his retirement, which was due on March 31, 2026, while hearing his plea seeking promotion and related service benefits. The tribunal had issued notice to the Ministry of Defence and directed that his retirement remain on hold until a decision is taken on his statutory complaint.

Purohit had approached the tribunal claiming that his career progression had been adversely affected due to the prolonged trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, in which he was an accused before being acquitted. He argued that the delay in the judicial process denied him a fair opportunity for promotion within the Army hierarchy.

The Mumbai NIA court on July 31 had acquitted Purohit and six others in the Malegaon blast case, observing that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. The verdict came after years of investigation and trial proceedings.

Originally, 11 people were accused in the case; however, the court ultimately framed charges against seven.

The other six who were acquitted alongside Purohit included former MP Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhankar Dhar Dwivedi (Shankaracharya) and Sameer Kulkarni.

The Malegaon blast incident occurred on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in the Bhikku Chowk area of Malegaon city in Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring 95 others.

The case was handed over to the NIA in 2011 from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), following which extensive investigations and examination of hundreds of witnesses were carried out over nearly 17 years before the acquittal of all accused under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and all other charges.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While I understand the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty', the entire episode is tragic. Six lives were lost, nearly a hundred injured. The focus seems to have shifted entirely to the accused's career, with little mention of justice for the victims' families after 17 years.
R
Rohit P
The system finally worked! If the court has acquitted him, then all service benefits and promotions due must be granted. The Army is doing the right thing. It also shows our judiciary, though slow, ultimately arrives at the truth. Jai Hind!
P
Priya S
This case highlights a major flaw in our anti-terror legal framework. 17 years of investigation, only for all accused to be acquitted? That's a lifetime wasted for everyone involved—the accused and the victims. We need faster, more efficient trials for such serious charges.
A
Aman W
Good decision. An officer who has served the nation deserves a fair chance. The promotion to Brigadier is well-earned after such an ordeal. Hope he can now serve with full dedication without this cloud over his head.
K
Kavitha C
It's a complex feeling. On one hand, an individual's career is restored. On the other, a terror attack remains unsolved? The NIA and ATS need to answer why the prosecution failed so badly. Public confidence in our investigative agencies takes a hit with such outcomes.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50