Witness in Malegaon Blast Case Claims Coercion to Name Yogi Adityanath; Court Rejects ATS Statement

Speedy Summary

• A witness in the 2008 Malegaon blast case alleged he was tortured and forced by Maharashtra ATS officers to name Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi adityanath,among others.
• Special Judge A.K. Lahoti stated that the testimony given to the court was involuntary and therefore unreliable.
• The court’s 1,000-page judgment concluded that ATS officers threatened and coerced prosecution witness Milind Joshirao during questioning about a meeting linked to Abhinav Bharat at Raigad fort.
• The statements allegedly made by Joshirao were determined by the court as written by ATS officers,raising doubt over their authenticity and admissibility in the case.
• Seven accused individuals, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence from the prosecution.
• The blast occurred in Malegaon (Nashik district) in September 2008, killing six people and injuring 101.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The court’s ruling raises critical questions about investigative procedures in high-profile cases like Malegaon. Allegations of torture and coercion involved with this case underscore systemic challenges within law enforcement practices regarding accountability. Legal reliance on voluntary confessions plays a vital role in ensuring justice, but procedural flaws can undermine public trust. Furthermore, this judgment could influence ongoing political narratives surrounding “Hindu terror” allegations while reinforcing calls for stronger judicial scrutiny over investigative agencies.

read more: The Hindu