In a shocking revelation that reopens serious questions about the controversial ‘saffron terror’ narrative, former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has accused the officers of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of subjecting her to brutal torture during the Malegaon blast investigation and coercing her to falsely implicate Prime Minister and the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi. Speaking to Reporters on Saturday, Sadhvi Pragya claimed that for 24 days she was mentally and physically broken by ATS officers who pressured her to link top nationalist leaders like Narendra Modi, RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Yogi Adityanath, RSS pracharak Indresh Kumar, Ram Madhav and Sudarshan to the 2008 Malegaon blast.
Her claims come just days after a special NIA court acquitted all seven accused in the 17-year-long case, terming the evidence insufficient. The revelations now raise critical questions about the role of political vendetta, fabricated narratives, and abuse of investigative machinery during the UPA era.
“Name Modi or Be Tortured”: Sadhvi’s Chilling Account of ATS Abuse
Sadhvi Pragya, who was arrested in late 2008 following the Malegaon blast, detailed the horror she allegedly endured at the hands of Maharashtra ATS officers. “They told me ‘You know Modi, name him too. If you take his name, we won’t torture you anymore’,” she recalled. According to her, this pressure came not just verbally but was accompanied by inhuman custodial torture lasting for over three weeks.
She further stated, “I was illegally detained for 13 days and tortured for 24 days. They broke me physically and mentally. I was forced to give names of Modi, Bhagwat, Yogi, Ram Madhav, Indresh ji all respected figures. I have recorded all this in a written statement submitted to the court.” Her claims, point towards a deliberate and calculated attempt to create a false saffron terror narrative under political instruction.
Congress Accused of Orchestrating a Political Conspiracy
Sadhvi Pragya directly blamed the Congress party for the conspiracy, alleging that the entire Malegaon probe under the UPA government was designed to target RSS, BJP, and pro-Hindu organizations. “They wanted to destroy Sanatan Dharma, discredit the Army, and malign the RSS. Congress used agencies like the ATS to execute their agenda,” she stated.
Her statements echo earlier claims by other accused, who have maintained that the ATS under political influence selectively targeted individuals from Hindu organizations to build a narrative of “Hindu terror.” Sadhvi specifically accused former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh of playing a key role in this alleged misuse of power. “He is not worthy of being called an officer,” she remarked.
Malegaon Blast: A Case Steeped in Political Interference
The Malegaon blast occurred on September 29, 2008, when a motorcycle rigged with explosives detonated near a mosque, killing six and injuring over 100. Soon after, the ATS arrested Sadhvi Pragya, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, and others. In 2010, the case was transferred to the NIA, which eventually dropped stringent charges like MCOCA. Over the years, the trial exposed glaring inconsistencies in the evidence and raised suspicion over the intent behind the arrests.
On July 31, 2025, after 17 years of trial, the special NIA court acquitted all accused due to lack of admissible evidence. The acquittal has been hailed by right-wing leaders as a “victory for truth” and a defeat of Congress-led propaganda aimed at vilifying nationalist forces.
A 17-Year Battle for Justice Comes to an End
From 2008 to 2025, the Malegaon case remained in the spotlight not just for its legal intricacies, but also for its massive political ramifications. The UPA-era narrative of saffron terror was used as a tool by Congress leaders to equate Hindutva ideology with terrorism. Sadhvi Pragya’s acquittal, alongside her harrowing account of torture, now demands an urgent inquiry into the methods used by the then Maharashtra ATS and its political overseers.
The role of Param Bir Singh and other senior officers involved in the probe must be re-examined. With the court already ordering a separate probe into another ATS officer, ACP Shekhar Bagde, for allegedly planting RDX and forging records, these fresh revelations by Sadhvi only strengthen the case for a broader investigation into how law enforcement was weaponized for political ends.
Will There Be Accountability Now?
Sadhvi Pragya’s detailed allegations are not mere political rhetoric they are documented in her written statement submitted to court. If proven, they expose not only custodial abuse but a systematic effort to tarnish nationalists under a politically motivated theory of saffron terror. The recent Malegaon verdict acquitted the innocent, but the question that lingers is will the guilty who fabricated this conspiracy now be held accountable? The nation, and the victims of this abuse of power, deserve nothing less than the full truth and justice.