The Malegaon blast case, which started nearly two decades ago, has finally come to an end. A special NIA court in Mumbai has cleared all the accused—Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, and five others—of all charges related to the 2006 Malegaon blast. This verdict doesn't just free individuals; it also puts an end to a political and media narrative that tried to link Hinduism and Sanatan Dharma with terrorism.
Judge AK Lahoti made it clear that there was no strong evidence to convict any of the accused. He said the prosecution failed to provide solid proof and the case was full of inconsistencies. He added that no one can be convicted on the basis of emotions or political opinions. In simpler words, just being morally angry at someone doesn’t mean they are guilty in the eyes of the law.
This ruling highlights how a serious case was turned into a political drama. It also questions the role of the previous UPA government, which coined the term “saffron terror” and allegedly used it to target Hindu groups and individuals. According to critics, this wasn’t just a legal case—it was a political attempt to equate Hindu organisations with violent terrorist groups. The term “Hindu Lashkar-e-Toiba” was even used, showing just how extreme and misleading the comparisons became.
The Malegaon case didn’t just affect those who were accused. It also hurt the reputation of institutions like the Army. Lt Col Purohit was serving in the military when he was arrested. The Indian Army is known worldwide for being secular and professional. When a serving officer is arrested and accused without strong proof, it raises doubts about the fairness of the system.
The narrative also impacted how the world saw India. Words like “Hindu terror” and “Hindu Pakistan” were not just damaging—they were used to push a specific political idea. According to many observers, this was done to please certain vote banks and create a false sense of balance between Islamist terrorism and so-called Hindu extremism. But in doing so, it caused real harm to real people.
The court verdict has now broken that narrative. The judge's words are a reminder that justice must be based on facts, not feelings or politics. Unfortunately, the damage is already done. Lives were disrupted, reputations ruined, and institutions questioned—all for the sake of politics.
The idea behind this narrative also fails to understand the core values of Sanatan Dharma. Hinduism, at its core, is inclusive and pluralistic. It doesn’t have the concept of “the other” like some other faiths do. There is no Hindu version of a crusade or jihad. In fact, history shows that even when Hindus have come together for a cause, it rarely becomes a long-lasting, aggressive movement.
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Even in the case of the Babri Masjid demolition—a movement seen as driven by Hindu nationalism—there was internal criticism. Many Hindus opposed it, and the leaders of that movement later said they wouldn’t take any steps outside the law in future.
That’s why the attempt to portray Hindus as terrorists was deeply flawed and unfair. Thankfully, the court has now ended that storyline. But one important question remains—will those who pushed this false narrative ever be held accountable?
Many feel justice is only half complete. While the accused have been cleared, the people who pushed this narrative and caused so much damage are yet to face any consequences. It’s not just about the law—it’s also about setting the record straight for the nation.
This verdict is not just a legal victory for the accused, but a wake-up call for the country. It shows the importance of separating politics from justice. The case reminds us that while political ideas can be debated in Parliament or on TV, they should never decide the outcome of criminal trials.
Justice, when delayed and misused for politics, doesn’t just fail the accused—it fails the entire nation. The Malegaon verdict puts an end to a dangerous story that never should have been written in the first place.
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