Court Acquits All 7 in 2008 Malegaon Case, Probes Continue for Absconding Accused

A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, citing the failure of the prosecution to prove their involvement. However, the court has granted the agency the freedom to file a charge-sheet against the absconders Ramji Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange upon their capture.

In a verdict exceeding a thousand pages, Judge A K Lahoti pointed out discrepancies between the probes by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad and the NIA. Both agencies alleged the involvement of the fugitives in assembling the bomb, highlighting their possession of the explosive-laden motorcycle well before the incident.

Names of Kalsangra and Dange have emerged in multiple cases, including the Gauri Lankesh murder probe, marking them as high-priority targets for capture by the federal agency. The judgment insists on preserving the relevant evidence to facilitate potential future trials involving the elusive duo.

(With inputs from agencies.)