Malegaon blast case: Lt Colonel Purohit out on bail after 9 years

New Delhi : The Supreme Court has granted bail to Indian Army’s Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit arrested in the Malegaon blast case after a staggering 9 years. The Supreme Court granted Purohit’s bail stating that there is paradox in the charge sheet submitted by the agencies investigating against Purohit.

Col. Purohit was arrested under the allegation of assisting in the series of bomb blasts that took place in Malegaon in the year 2008. Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad had submitted a charge sheet against Purohit. It was revealed from the investigation report submitted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) last year that there were anomalies in the charge sheet submitted in the year 2009.

The paradox present in the reports of both the investigating agencies caught the attention of the bench of Supreme Court’s Justice R. K. Agrawal and Justice Abhay Mohan Sapre.

Serving in the Intelligence Department of the Indian Army, Lt. Col. Purohit had termed the allegations on him to be baseless and said that he was only doing his duty of gathering secret information against the terrorists. Purohit had also provided information that he had presented detailed reports of his work to his seniors. It has also come to fore that Lt. Col. Purohit was also praised in an Indian Army report.

It was noted in this report that Purohit is gathering sensitive information by risking his life and this is making it possible to destroy the terrorist plot. A news channel recently revealed this report.

Since last year it is being accused that allegation of assisting the terrorists made on such an officer is inspired by political motive. Purohit’s lawyer, Harish Salve also said that Purohit has been framed in this case due to political dispute.