Premium

Malegaon blast acquittals: ‘I was expecting this verdict… anything can happen if you lay out different evidence,’ says Rohini Salian

Salian, the former special public prosecutor, had alleged in 2015 that the government had, through the NIA, put pressure on her to “go soft” on the accused

3 min readPuneUpdated: Jul 31, 2025 02:21 PM IST

A special court in Mumbai acquitted all seven accused in the case on Thursday. (Express Archive)

Rohini Salian, the former special public prosecutor of the Malegaon blast case who had alleged in 2015 that the government had, through the National Investigation Agency (NIA), put pressure on her to “go soft” on the accused, said today that she was expecting the acquittal verdict.

“It was known that this would happen. What else is expected if you don’t lay out the true evidence? I was not the prosecutor who presented the evidence to the court finally. I was out since 2017, and before that, I had presented plenty of evidence and the Supreme Court had upheld it all. Where did it all vanish?” said Salian, speaking to the Indian Express from Mangalore, where she now lives.

Also read | ‘I will never find peace’: Malegaon man who lost 10-year-old daughter in blast says verdict has left him heartbroken

“I was expecting this verdict since a long time – if you lay out different evidence than what was first recorded, anything can happen. According to the NIA, the earlier evidence was false, so they reinvestigated the case, re-recorded the witnesses’ statements, which apparently were contrary to the 164 recorded earlier by the ATS. The new evidence was what was presented to the court, and the judgment was based on that,” she said.

“I am not even disappointed with the verdict because this has become routine for me. We lose our sensitivity when this keeps happening. Nobody wants the truth to come out. We work very hard, but someone doesn’t want us to. Whose failure is this finally? Our own – the people’s. Not the government because this is the government that the people have elected, and they will govern the way they need to. You cannot blame the government – you must blame your own selves,” she said.

Also read | Contradictory versions of ATS and NIA, witnesses’ testimonies: How SC and Bombay HC flagged flaws in probe against Pragya Thakur, Col Purohit

In June 2015, Salian had, in an exclusive interview, told The Indian Express that as special public prosecutor, she had allegedly been under pressure from the NIA to go “soft” on the accused ever since “the new government (NDA) came to power” at the Centre. She had claimed that she got a call from one of the officers of the NIA asking to come over to speak with her.

“He didn’t want to talk over the phone. He came and said to me that there is a message that I should go soft,” Salian had claimed. Earlier that month, just before one of the regular hearings in the case in the Sessions Court, she claimed she was told that “higher-ups” did not want her to appear in the court for the State of Maharashtra and that another advocate would attend the proceedings. She was subsequently de-notified by the NIA from its panel of lawyers, but the Home Ministry was still to take a final call on her removal. “Last I knew, the matter was pending at the Supreme Court. I am not sure of my denotification status today,” she said.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories

Tags:
2008 Malegaon blast case

Loading Recommendations...

Apr 22: Latest News

Live Blog