Mumbai, April 22, 2026
In a significant relief to four accused in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blast case, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday quashed and set aside a special court order framing charges against them.
A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar delivered the verdict while allowing appeals filed by Rajendra Chaudhary, Lokesh Sharma, Dhan Singh and Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria.
The High Court had earlier observed that a prima facie case existed for interference with the order of the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court.
The four had been charged with offences including murder and criminal conspiracy under the IPC, along with provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, following a September 30, 2025, order by the special court. Wednesday’s ruling effectively halts proceedings against them at this stage.
The case pertains to the September 8, 2006, blasts in Malegaon, where explosions near the Hamidia Masjid and adjoining areas shortly after Friday prayers left 37 people dead and over 300 injured.
The investigation has witnessed multiple twists over the years. Initially, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested nine Muslim men, who spent several years in jail before being granted bail in 2011. A special court later discharged all nine in 2016, citing insufficient evidence.
Subsequently, the probe was taken over by the NIA, which pursued a different line of investigation. The agency arrested the present four accused after alleged disclosures by Swami Aseemanand, pointing to the involvement of right-wing elements. The four were granted bail by the High Court in 2019.
The Malegaon blast probe has been marked by conflicting findings between agencies, with the NIA diverging from earlier conclusions of the ATS and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
With the High Court now setting aside the framing of charges, the case takes yet another turn in a long and complex legal trajectory.(Agency)
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