Local Muslim leaders allege bias and urge the Maharashtra government to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court
NEW DELHI/MALEGAON — The industrial city of Malegaon in Maharashtra is once again gripped by grief and disbelief after a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court acquitted all accused in the 2008 Bhakko Chowk bomb blast case, which killed several people and injured dozens. The verdict has left many questioning the fairness of the legal system, particularly in cases involving Muslim victims.
Local leaders, many of whom were expecting a strong verdict based on the evidence gathered over the years, have expressed disappointment and suspicion. They are now demanding that the Maharashtra government immediately move the Supreme Court against the ruling.
Mufti Mohammad Ismail Qasmi, All India Majlis-e Ittehadul Muslimeen MLA from Malegaon, said, “In the context of the Mumbai train serial blasts case verdict, it can be said that an attempt has been made to create a balance by acquitting the accused of the 2008 Malegaon blast, while the investigators, especially ATS chief Hemant Karkare (late), collected solid, concrete and irrefutable evidence.”
He pointed to key elements of the investigation, including the confession by Swami Aseemanand, the meeting at the Kumbh Mela, and digital evidence connecting the accused to other blasts targeting Muslims in places like Ajmer Sharif and Hyderabad.
“After Karkare’s death, the case was handed over to the NIA. It seems the accused got the benefit of the doubt. But this doubt was manufactured. The evidence, especially the digital trail and confessional statements, was very strong. Ignoring all that raises serious questions,” Mufti Qasmi added.
Former MLA Asif Sheikh Rasheed criticised the state government’s apparent double standards. He drew a comparison between the swift appeal made by the government in the Mumbai train blast acquittal and the silence on the Malegaon blast verdict.
“The Maharashtra government went straight to the Supreme Court when Muslim youth were acquitted in the Mumbai serial train blasts. Those innocent boys were pulled back into legal troubles. Now when the accused are Hindu extremists, why is the government quiet?” he asked.
“The government’s faith should lie in the Constitution and justice, not in Hinduism or religious politics,” he added firmly.
Muhammad Mustaqeem, a former member of the Malegaon Municipal Council, described the verdict as a “mockery of justice.” He recalled how Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was arrested after forensic teams linked her motorcycle to the blast.
“The bomb was placed on her motorcycle. The blast happened. Innocent people died. That motorcycle was traced back to Madhya Pradesh, and Sadhvi Pragya’s name came up. How can such clear evidence be ignored?” he asked.
He added, “The world would have seen saffron terror for what it is, if this case had been taken seriously. But now it looks like justice has been deliberately denied. The court’s decision is not only disappointing, but dangerous for our democracy.”
Dr Khalid Pervez, former chairman of the Malegaon Municipal Standing Committee, was equally upset. He said, “This case was not ordinary. These were not small-time criminals. These were trained, well-connected people from extremist Hindu outfits.”
He highlighted how two major agencies – the ATS and later the NIA – had thoroughly investigated the case. “The names of Abhinav Bharat and Himani Savarkar were clearly mentioned. Yet, somehow, the court found the evidence ‘insufficient’. It’s beyond understanding. This is not just injustice, this is sabotage.”
Dr Pervez urged the Maharashtra government to act quickly. “This verdict must be challenged. Justice has not been done. The families of the victims deserve to see the real criminals behind bars.”
The 2008 Malegaon blast was a turning point in India’s investigation into Hindutva terror networks. The initial investigation led by Hemant Karkare exposed the involvement of extremist Hindu groups – a finding that shocked many and was politically sensitive. It was one of the first cases where Hindu radicals were officially implicated in terror cases.
Karkare was later killed in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. After his death, the case was handed over to the NIA. Since then, many feel the case lost its original direction and momentum.
“After Karkare was gone, the spirit of the investigation also died. What he built with honesty and courage was later diluted and damaged,” said a retired Malegaon professor, who did not wish to be named.
He added, “If this had been a Muslim accused, the verdict would have been very different. They would be rotting in jail by now. But because these are upper-caste Hindus, they walk free. Is this the justice our country promises?”
The families of the victims are devastated. Several community members gathered after the verdict to discuss the next steps. One elderly father, who lost his son in the 2008 blast, said with tears in his eyes: “They killed my child. I kept faith in the courts. Now they say there is no evidence? What about my son’s blood? Is that not evidence?”
Others fear the verdict will embolden the extremist groups. “They got away once. They will feel encouraged to strike again. And this time, they will be smarter. We are not safe anymore,” said a young businessman from Malegaon, requesting anonymity.
The news has hardly received any serious coverage in the national media. Many leaders who are vocal on other issues have remained silent. The community feels ignored and sidelined.
“If the victims had been Hindus and the accused were Muslims, every TV channel would be running nonstop coverage. But when the victims are Muslims and the accused are from Hindutva groups, everything is quiet,” said local activist Jameel Shaikh.
He added, “This silence is not accidental. It is part of a system that protects only one kind of people. Muslims have no value in the eyes of the system.”
All the local leaders agreed on one point – the verdict must be challenged in the Supreme Court. They also demanded that the role of the NIA be examined and questioned.
“If the agency failed to defend the case properly, someone should be held responsible. This was not just a mistake; this was a betrayal,” said Mufti Ismail Qasmi.
“Our message to the Maharashtra government is simple – go to the Supreme Court. Prove that justice still matters in this country. Otherwise, Malegaon will never forget this injustice,” he warned.
