Malegaon Blast Case

Why in news?

The Special court hearing the 2008 Malegaon bombing case has made some significant statements recently.

What is the Malegaon Bombing Case?

• A couple of low intensity bombs went off in September 2008 in Malegaon, Maharashtra, killing 7 people.
• The bombing seemed targeted to kill innocent Muslims, and it has been widely speculated that it was carried out by Hindu Extremist elements.
• Some vouch that the long-term ideological plank for the attack was to overthrow the secular Indian state and replace it with a Hindu Rashtra.
• Contrarily, Hindutva groups have argued that the case was fabricated by the previous government, to defame their cause and to excuse jihadist violence.

What were the recent developments in the case? 

• In line with the National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) view, the court recently held that the controversial ‘Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act’ (MCOCA) did not apply to the case.
• This effectively means that the confessional statements made by the accused cannot be used by the prosecution.  
• However, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad’s claim to prosecute Sadhvi Pragya for her alleged role in the bombing has been upheld.
• This was in contradiction to the NIA, which stated lack of evidence for her prosecution to be taken forward.

What are the larger implications?  

• The polarising nature of the case is precisely what makes it vital to ensure that the highest standards of criminal justice are rigorously applied.
• Notably, many see the case as a test for whether the Indian state can withstand chauvinistic majoritarian onslaught and remain a fair arbiter.
• Hence, beyond mere individual culpability or innocence, the outcome will have enormous consequences for the course of the republic.

Source: Indian Express