This is an archive article published on May 14, 2016
Both Muslims, Hindus arrested in Malegaon blasts innocent: Thane blast convict
"I would say that even the remaining ten Hindu accused including Lt. Col Prasad Purohit are also innocent and have been falsely implicated,” said Bhave, while speaking to The Indian Express.
Vikram Bhave, a Sanatan Sanstha seeker, who himself is a convict in the Gadkari Rangayatan auditorum blast case in Thane in 2008.
One man happy with the latest developments in the two Malegaon bomb blasts cases is Vikram Bhave, a Sanatan Sanstha supporter convicted in the Gadkari Rangayatan auditorum blast case in Thane in 2008.
That is because Bhave had written a book, “Malegaon Sphotamagil Adrushya Hath (Invisible hands behind Malegaon blast), three months after being released on bail, in which he claimed the Muslims held for 2006 Malegaon blast and Hindus arrested for 2008 Malegaon blast are innocent.
Bhave’s book, released on September 1, 2013, was published by Himani Savarkar, president of Abhinav Bharat, a Hindutva group!alleged to be behind 2008 Malegaon blast.
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“I had written in my book that the Muslims jailed for the 2006 Malegaon blast are innocent. I am happy they are discharged from terror charges. Now, investigator say they have no evidence against Sadhvi Pragya and others. I would say that even the remaining ten Hindu accused including Lt. Col Prasad Purohit are also innocent and have been falsely implicated,” Bhave told The Indian Express.
“Both the Hindus and Muslims falsely arrested in bomb blast cases have lost valuable years of their lives in jail. Those who arrested them should be punished,” he said.
Bhave said that he was lodged in Anda cell of Arthur Road jail in Mumbai and later at Taloja jail along with the Hindu suspects (including Abhinav Bharat members) arrested in Malegaon blast 2008 and the Muslims in Malegaon blast 2006.
Bhave said he used to regularly interact with these suspects and felt that both the Hindus as well as the Muslims arrested in the bomb blasts were “innocent.”
“So, after being released from jail on May 28, 2013, I started studying the chargesheets, writ petitions and other documents in the two bomb blasts with the help of lawyers. I was convinced there was something wrong with the on going investigation sand so I thought of writing a book about it.”
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The 112 pages book carries chapters on Sadhvi Pragya, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and others arrested for Malegaon blast 2008. The book also has two chapters on the vows of Muslims arrested in Malegaon blast 2006. The book ends hinting that “invisible political hands” were behind the bomb blast probe. Asked about these “invisible hands”, Bhave said, “Arrests in both bomb blasts in Malegaon were made during the Congress – NCP regime, who claim to be secular political parties.”
Chandan Haygunde is an assistant editor with The Indian Express with 15 + years of experience in covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has been associated with The Indian Express since 2007.
Chandan has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He has done in-depth reporting on the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and hearings of the ‘Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry’. ... Read More