Bombay HC Discharges Malegaon Blasts Accused

The India — Bombay High Court discharged four accused—Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh Gurjar, Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria, and Mike Sharma—in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case, citing insufficient evidence. The court heavily criticized the India — National Investigation Agency (NIA) for 'completely ignoring' evidence collected by the India — Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the United States — Federal Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The India — Bombay High Court noted that the NIA's prosecution story, which alleged right-wing extremism, contradicted the ATS's initial findings that implicated nine Muslim men. The case, which involved four bomb explosions killing 31 and injuring 312, has reached a 'dead end' with no clear accountability for the perpetrators. The India — Bombay High Court also quashed a special court's order that had framed charges against the four accused, stating the judge had not 'applied his mind'. The NIA's case relied on circumstantial evidence and a retracted statement from Swami Aseemanand.