Acquittal in Malegaon Blast Case Sparks Debate on Abhinav Bharat's Status

A special court has acquitted seven individuals implicated in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, casting doubt on the prosecution's allegations linking the attack to right-wing group Abhinav Bharat. The government has yet to classify the organization as a terrorist outfit, the ruling pointed out.

Judge A K Lahoti, in a comprehensive judgment, observed that the prosecution had failed to prove crucial claims. Despite the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad's insistence that Abhinav Bharat functioned as an organized crime syndicate, the court noted that no official ban has been placed on the group by the Central government.

The court scrutinized the trust deeds associated with Abhinav Bharat, emphasizing their lawful content. Furthermore, the ruling highlighted the prosecution's inability to establish connections between accused individuals and alleged conspiracies to form a separate Hindu nation, Aryawrat.

(With inputs from agencies.)