Explained: Sadhvi Pragya Thakur’s connection to Hemant Karkare

Pragya Singh Thakur was the first arrest in the Malegaon 2008 blast case on October 23, 2008, within a month of the blast after ATS investigation led by Hemant Karkare.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. (PTI)

It was under the leadership of Hemant Karkare, who was the chief of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) that the first breakthrough in the Malegaon 2008 blast case was made. The ATS claimed that the golden-coloured LML Freedom motorcycle, on which an improvised explosive device was fit, to cause a blast on September 29, 2008, in Malegaon with an intention to create a communal rift, was registered under the name of Pragya Singh Thakur, a former member of Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

Thakur was the first arrest in the case on October 23, 2008, within a month of the blast after ATS investigation led by Karkare. Followed by Thakur’s alleged interrogation, the ATS arrested 10 others including Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, a serving member of the Indian army.

Even as the investigation was in progress, Karkare, however, lost his life in the terror attack on November 26, 2008, outside Cama Hospital. The investigation continued after his death with the ATS filing its chargesheet in the case in January 2009 against 11 accused including Thakur.

Before his probe into the Malegaon 2008 blast, Karkare had also investigated blasts in theatres in Thane and Navi Mumbai in June 2008. Two men linked to a Hindutva group were found guilty under the Explosive Substances Act and sentenced to ten years imprisonment in 2011.

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Former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare.

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In 2016, while the NIA discredited the probe carried out under Karkare in the Malegaon 2008 blast case, calling it full of “lacunae” and sought to discharge Thakur, the special court refused to discharge her stating that there was prima facie evidence about her role in the blast.

Sadaf Modak

Sadaf Modak is a distinguished Legal Correspondent based in Mumbai whose work demonstrates exceptional Expertise and Authority in covering the intricacies of the judicial and correctional systems. Reporting for The Indian Express, she is a highly Trustworthy source for in-depth coverage of courtroom proceedings and human rights issues. Expertise Specialized Role: As a dedicated Legal Correspondent, Sadaf Modak possesses deep, specialized knowledge of legal procedures, statutes, and judicial operations, lending immense Authority to her reports. Core Authority & Focus: Her work primarily centers on: Trial Court Proceedings: She mainly covers the trial courts of Mumbai, providing crucial, on-the-ground reporting on the day-to-day legal processes that affect citizens. She maintains a keen eye on both major criminal cases and the "ordinary and not so ordinary events" that reveal the human element within the justice system. Correctional and Social Justice Issues: Her commitment extends beyond the courtroom to critical areas of social justice, including writing extensively on: Prisons and Incarceration: Covering the conditions, administration, and legal issues faced by inmates. Juvenile Justice: Reporting on the complexities of the juvenile justice system and the legal rights of children. Human Rights: Focusing on fundamental human rights within the context of law enforcement and state institutions. Experience Institutional Affiliation: Reporting for The Indian Express—a leading national newspaper—ensures her coverage is subject to high editorial standards of accuracy, impartiality, and legal rigor. Impactful Detail: Her focus on trial courts provides readers with direct, detailed insights into the workings of the justice system, making complex legal narratives accessible and establishing her as a reliable and trusted chronicler of the legal landscape. Sadaf Modak's blend of judicial focus and commitment to human rights issues establishes her as a vital and authoritative voice in Indian legal journalism. She tweets @sadafmodak ... Read More