Former Police Officer Alleges Pressure to Arrest RSS Chief in Malegaon Blast Case
In a shocking revelation, former ATS officer Mahboob Mujawar claims he was pressured to arrest RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat during the investigation of the 2008 Malegaon blast. His statements come after a court acquitted all accused in the case, citing a lack of credible evidence. Mujawar alleges that he faced severe consequences for refusing to comply with illegal orders and has now been vindicated. This case, which resulted in six deaths and over 100 injuries, has been mired in controversy, raising questions about the integrity of the investigation and the concept of 'saffron terrorism' that was prevalent at the time.
Aug 1, 2025, 13:41 IST
Allegations from a Former ATS Officer
Mahboob Mujawar, a former police officer from Maharashtra, has made a startling claim regarding the Malegaon blast investigation. He stated that he was allegedly instructed to arrest Mohan Bhagwat, the chief of the RSS, during his tenure with the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) investigating the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Mujawar's comments came after all accused were acquitted by the NIA court in this high-profile case.
Speaking to the media, Mujawar revealed that at the time, his superiors, including Param Bir Singh, directed him to apprehend Bhagwat. He noted that the concept of 'saffron terrorism' was prevalent in the media during that period. Mujawar insisted that he did not engage in any wrongdoing and faced severe repercussions, including imprisonment and defamation. He asserted that he presented all evidence he possessed to the court. Furthermore, he accused the investigation officer of fabricating charges against him for refusing to comply with illegal orders.
Mujawar recounted that he was pressured to submit a charge sheet that included deceased individuals as living witnesses. Upon his refusal, he claimed that Singh ensnared him in a false case. He expressed relief that he has now been exonerated from all fabricated charges against him. His allegations were made in response to a recent ruling by a special lower court that acquitted all seven defendants in the case, citing a lack of credible evidence, procedural errors, and unreliable witness testimonies that weakened the prosecution's case.
Nearly 17 years after the Malegaon blast, which resulted in six fatalities and over 100 injuries, a special court in Mumbai has cleared all seven accused, including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, due to insufficient evidence against them.