Retired ATS officer Mehboob Mujawar reveals shocking details, says ‘was asked to arrest RSS chief’ in Malegaon case
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Retired ATS officer Mehboob Mujawar reveals shocking details, says ‘was asked to arrest RSS chief’ in Malegaon case
Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske accused the Congress government of propagating a ‘saffron terror’ narrative to appease minorities. Earlier on Thursday, the Mumbai Special National Investigative Agency Court (NIA) acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The court said the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The verdict has sparked reactions from spiritual leaders and political parties across the country. Six people were killed and 95 others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malega on 29 September, 2008. The police have arrested 11 people, but the court ultimately framed charges against 7, including former MP Sadhvi Pragya.
Naresh Mhaske’s comment arrived hours after Mehboob Mujawar claimed he was forced to name RRS chief in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
“This is what is being exposed. The whole case was being diverted to another angle and creating a new propaganda of ‘Saffron terror’ to appease minorities and to protect the actual culprits,” Mhaske told ANI.
Earlier on Thursday, the Mumbai Special National Investigative Agency Court (NIA) acquitted all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The court said the prosecution failed to establish the case beyond a reasonable doubt. The verdict has sparked reactions from spiritual leaders and political parties across the country.
Mujawar even stated that he was jailed for refusing to carry out the orders that came from his bosses, including former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, who was the Additional Commissioner of the ATS at that time.
“I didn’t make any allegations, but presented what has been on the record. It has been proved in court. It is not about political pressure; rather, my boss, Param Bir Singh, and other top officials instructed me to arrest Mohan Bhagwat. There was this concept of ‘bhagwa atankwaad (saffron terror)’ running in the media. However, I refused to do this and was punished for it. I was arrested and put in jail. I was defamed,” Mujawar told ANI.
“I can request that the families of those who died in the bomb blast be given maximum compensation. The court announced ₹2 lakh compensation, but they should be given more,” he added.
Political reactions: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad demanded an apology from Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Speaking to mediapersons, Prasad said, “The Congress can go to any limits for the vote bank. Congress created a conspiracy of Bhagwa Terror and started spreading it… The court found that there was no evidence or chassis number of the motorcycle. The witnesses also said that they were tortured and forced to make statements…”
Hitting out at P Chidambaram, “Chidambaram not only give certificates to Pakistan… He raised the issue of Bhagwa terror as the Home Minister and conspired to create a narrative… Why is Rahul Gandhi running away from the truth?”
About the case: Earlier on 29 September, six people were killed and 95 others injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon City’s Bhikku Chowk.
The police have arrested 11 people, but the court ultimately framed charges against 7, including former MP Sadhvi Pragya.
The lawyer representing the victims’ families said that he will be challenging the acquittal of the seven people in the High Court.