Malegaon terror cases: System that keeps failing

📌 Summary:

• Context: Bombay High Court discharged the last 4 accused in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case; 4 blasts killed 31, injured 300+; accused: Manohar Narwaria, Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh, Lokesh Sharma

• Core argument: ATS, CBI, and NIA all failed to deliver justice — a broken investigative-prosecutory process compounded by political interference

• Causal chain of failure: (1) Investigative lapses: lack of credible evidence, coerced confessions, alleged torture by initial investigators (2) Inadmissibility: ATS gathered wire taps, witness statements, videos of conspiracy but failed the legal requirement to have electronic evidence verified under IT Act — entire evidence ruled inadmissible (3) Political will fractures prosecution: direction of investigation and prosecution changed with change of government; identity of perpetrators/victims influenced prosecutorial commitment (4) Multi-agency handover: ATS → CBI → NIA led to divergent theories and weakened prosecution

• Prior acquittal: 2025 — former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit among 7 acquitted in 2008 Malegaon blast case due to absent admissible evidence

• ATS Chief Hemant Karkare (who led 2008 probe) was killed in 26/11 attacks, disrupting investigation continuity

• Pattern of failure: Malegaon 2006 and 2008, Mumbai train blasts 2006, Akshardham 2002 — all failed prosecution despite anti-terror laws

• Solutions: Strong appeal against discharge; agencies must introspect; systemic reforms in evidence gathering, chain of custody, and electronic evidence protocols needed

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 – Internal Security: Terrorism, anti-terror legislation; GS2 – Polity: Judiciary, accountability of investigative agencies; GS4 – Ethics: Institutional accountability and political neutrality

📝 Prelims Facts:

• NIA: National Investigation Agency, established under NIA Act 2008

• UAPA: Unlawful Activities Prevention Act — stringent anti-terror law applied in these cases

• Hemant Karkare: ATS Chief who led 2008 Malegaon probe, killed in 26/11 Mumbai attacks

🔑 Key Term: National Investigation Agency (NIA) – India's premier federal counter-terrorism agency established 2008; investigates offences under UAPA, Explosives Act and related laws; operates across states without state government permission