In a stunning revelation, a retired Maharashtra ATS officer has alleged that he was instructed to arrest Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat in the 2008 Malegaon blast case part of a broader conspiracy to fabricate the narrative of “saffron terror.” The officer, Mehiboob Mujawar, labeled the entire probe a “sham,” driven by political motives and orchestrated by a “fake officer.” These explosive claims come just days after a special NIA court acquitted all accused in the 17-year-long case. As the truth unravels, it calls into question the intentions of those who weaponized institutions to malign an entire community.
Fabricated Probe and Political Agenda: Officer Breaks Silence
Retired inspector Mehiboob Mujawar, once part of the Maharashtra ATS team probing the 2008 Malegaon blast, has come forward with chilling allegations. Speaking at a public event in Solapur, Mujawar claimed he was given explicit instructions to arrest top Hindu leaders, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “I was asked to go and catch Mohan Bhagwat,” he revealed. The orders, he said, were part of a wider agenda to construct a false narrative around “saffron terror” and portray Hindu groups as extremist threats.
Mujawar described the orders as “horrific” and “beyond reason,” stating that he refused to act on them. His resistance, he claims, cost him dearly. A fabricated case was registered against him, leading to the collapse of his four-decade-long career in law enforcement. He insisted that he possesses documentary evidence to support his claims and called the entire investigation a “sham” led by a “fake officer.”
Court Acquittal Slams Prosecution’s Weak Evidence
On July 31, 2025, a special NIA court delivered a landmark verdict acquitting all seven accused in the Malegaon blast case, including BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. The court found that the prosecution had failed to establish charges beyond reasonable doubt. Special Judge A.K. Lahoti ruled that suspicion alone cannot sustain a conviction. There was no evidence to prove that Sadhvi Pragya owned the motorcycle used in the blast, nor that Purohit was involved in manufacturing the bomb.
The blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, during Ramadan in Malegaon — a Muslim-majority town — killed six and injured over 100 people. Initially investigated by the ATS, the case was later transferred to the NIA following allegations of procedural lapses and political interference.
Collapse of the ‘Saffron Terror’ Narrative
The Malegaon case had long been cited by the previous UPA government as proof of “Hindu terror,” with top Congress leaders like Sonia Gandhi, P. Chidambaram, and Sushil Kumar Shinde pushing the narrative in public discourse. This line of attack triggered deep divisions and stirred widespread outrage among Hindus, who felt unjustly targeted.
With the recent acquittals, the ‘saffron terror’ theory now lies in ruins. The court’s conclusion has validated long-standing claims from the accused that they were victims of political vendetta. Even the NIA, in its 2016 supplementary chargesheet, criticized the ATS’s approach, removed charges under MCOCA, and noted that the motorcycle allegedly linked to Sadhvi Pragya had been in possession of an absconding accused long before the blast.
Vindication for the Accused and a Demand for Accountability
Lt. Col. Purohit had long maintained that he was tortured during illegal detention, pressured to name right-wing figures like Yogi Adityanath, and framed using planted evidence. Witnesses, he alleged, were coerced under duress to support a political narrative. His claims now find validation in both the NIA’s reevaluation and the recent verdict.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and RSS have launched scathing attacks on the Congress party, demanding accountability for deliberately framing innocent Hindus. VHP’s spokesperson, Vinod Bansal, called for a parliamentary resolution condemning Congress’s alleged support for terrorists and vilification of Hindu organizations. “This wasn’t just about a legal case; it was about defaming Sanatan Dharma,” he said.
When Truth Emerges, Narratives Collapse
The acquittal of all accused in the Malegaon blast case is more than just a legal milestone — it is a historical reckoning. The revelations by Mehiboob Mujawar add a deeply troubling dimension to an already discredited investigation. It is now evident that political power was used not just to influence outcomes, but to weaponize terror investigations against ideological opponents.
India must now confront the reality that its institutions were, at one point, manipulated to serve partisan ends. The damage done to lives, careers, and public trust must not be forgotten. Justice, though delayed, has arrived. What remains is the moral duty of the nation to ensure that such politically motivated witch-hunts never repeat — and that those responsible are held accountable.
