Witness Says ATS Forced Him to Name Yogi
A witness in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case has alleged in court that Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) illegally detained him and coerced him into naming Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and four other RSS leaders.
Claims of Torture and False Statements
Milind Joshirao, one of 39 witnesses who later retracted earlier testimony, told an NIA court that he was held for seven days and threatened with torture by ATS officers, including senior officials. He said they told him he would be released if he falsely implicated five RSS figures in his statement. When he refused, he claims, pressure continued.
Court Questions Voluntariness of Statement
Special Judge A. K. Lahoti noted the impact of such threats on the credibility of Joshirao’s earlier statement, stressing that it was written by an ATS officer without the witness’s free consent. The judge cited similar accusations from other hostile witnesses, raising doubts about the quality of evidence against the accused.
All Seven Accused Acquitted Due to Weak Evidence
On July 31, the NIA special court acquitted all seven people charged in the Malegaon case—including former BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. The court concluded that there was no reliable, cogent proof linking them to the bomb blast and that many witness accounts were inconsistent or coerced.
Deepening Probe into ATS Conduct
Joshirao’s testimony adds to a growing concern over investigative conduct in the case. Several hostile witnesses described similar tactics. The presiding judge criticized ATS methods and highlighted lapses in the investigation, leading to loss of public trust and legal credibility.
Political Impact and Next Steps
The disclosure has intensified political debate. Opposition leaders called for a full inquiry into the ATS probe, arguing that false accusations were used to target ideological opponents. The court’s verdict and witness claims may trigger further scrutiny of historic terrorism cases handled by the ATS.
