Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit Cleared for Promotion After Malegaon Blast Acquittal
Army clears Lt Col Shrikant Purohit, acquitted in Malegaon blasts case, for promotion: Report
The Times Of India
Image: The Times Of India
Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, has been approved for promotion to brigadier. His promotion was delayed due to a lengthy trial, which he argued adversely impacted his career progression. The Armed Forces Tribunal has stayed his retirement pending a decision on his complaint.
- 01Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit was acquitted in the Malegaon blast case in July 2025.
- 02He has been cleared for promotion to the rank of brigadier.
- 03Purohit spent nearly nine years in custody before being granted bail in September 2017.
- 04The Malegaon blast in 2008 killed six and injured 95 others.
- 05The Armed Forces Tribunal has temporarily stayed his retirement while reviewing his promotion request.
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Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, who was acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, has received clearance for promotion to the rank of brigadier. An NIA court acquitted him and six others in July 2025, after a lengthy trial that lasted nearly 17 years. Purohit, who was arrested in November 2008 as a serving officer in military intelligence, argued that the prolonged legal proceedings adversely affected his career. The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has temporarily stayed his retirement, which was set for March 31, while it reviews his complaint regarding promotion and service benefits. The Malegaon blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, involved an explosive device that detonated near a mosque, resulting in six fatalities and 95 injuries. Following the case's transfer to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011, all accused were acquitted of charges under various laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
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Purohit's promotion could restore his standing within the military and influence the careers of other officers facing similar legal challenges.
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