Sixteen years after being arrested in the Malegaon blast case, former MP and spiritual figure Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was acquitted on Thursday by Mumbai’s NIA Special Court, along with six other accused. The court ruled that the prosecution failed to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. For Sadhvi Pragya, the verdict was more than legal relief, but it marked the end of a painful chapter of emotional and physical suffering.
While addressing the court, Sadhvi Pragya broke down in tears, recalling how she was subjected to torture, humiliation, and a complete character assassination despite repeatedly asserting her innocence. ‘For years, I had to live under the weight of false accusations,’ she said. ‘I was dragged into this case without solid grounds, and it ruined my life.’
She further expressed that her spiritual path as a sanyasi was attacked with political motives. ‘I was living a peaceful, ascetic life. But the way I was arrested and treated, it was a direct attack on my identity, on the saffron I wore. Through me, an attempt was made to tarnish Bhagwa and create a false narrative of ‘saffron terrorism’. Today, that lie has fallen apart.’
She revealed that she was beaten with leather belts, starved for 24 days, and subjected to electric shocks. Verbal abuse was routine, and she was allegedly kept with male detainees and forced to watch pornographic videos. Sadhvi recounted that groups of five to six policemen would beat her continuously, and when they got tired, others would take over.
She stated that when she was first summoned for questioning, she was in good health, but her condition drastically worsened in custody. Due to the torture, she developed cancer and neurological issues, with her body deteriorating to the point of developing pus-filled wounds.
Sadhvi Pragya, reflecting on the years she spent battling the system, said, ‘Those who called me for questioning had no concrete basis. I was arrested and physically and mentally tortured. They painted me as a criminal while the truth was ignored. Nobody stood by us, yet I survived because I am a sanyasi. That strength comes from within.’
The Malegaon blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, killed six people and injured 95 near a mosque in Malegaon’s Bhikku Chowk. Initially, 11 people were arrested, but charges were eventually framed against seven including Pragya Singh Thakur, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi (also known as Shankaracharya), and Sameer Kulkarni.
The court acknowledged that the blast happened but stated that the prosecution could not prove that the bomb was planted on the motorcycle allegedly linked to the accused. It also noted that medical records were manipulated, as the number of injured was actually 95, not 101 as claimed earlier.
Sadhvi Pragya ended her statement by reiterating that the saffron flag, a symbol of peace and sacrifice, had been unjustly defamed. ‘Today is a day of justice for Bhagwa, for Hindutva. Those who tried to dishonor this identity will face divine justice. While I have been acquitted, those who falsely accused and defamed us haven’t yet faced consequences.’
The court has also directed the Maharashtra government to compensate the victims with Rs 2 lakh to each of the deceased’s families and Rs 50,000 to those injured.
Beyond its legal implications, the verdict raises critical questions about the treatment of women in custodial systems, especially those who don the robe of spirituality and nationalism. Sadhvi Pragya’s case is a reminder of how a woman’s voice can be silenced under the weight of political agendas, and how justice though delayed can still reclaim her dignity.
