Ex-ATS Officer Alleges High-Profile Pressure in Malegaon Blast Case
In a sensational revelation, a retired Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officer has alleged he was pressured to arrest top right-wing leaders, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, during the investigation of the 2008 Malegaon blast case.
Mehboob Mujawar, the officer in question, has claimed that senior officials, including then-IPS officer Param Bir Singh, instructed him to arrest key individuals such as Ram Kalsangra, Sandip Dange, Dilip Patidar, and Bhagwat to build a “saffron terror” narrative.
🚨 BIG REVELATION in Malegaon Blast Case 🚨
Former ATS officer Mehboob Mujawar drops a bombshell:
“I was ordered to arrest Mohan Bhagwat.
The Malegaon blast probe was politically driven.
I refused to frame him — it was a horrific, confidential order.”He adds:
🔹 Orders came… pic.twitter.com/poQMOlIX0W
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 1, 2025
“It was beyond my capacity to arrest someone like Mohan Bhagwat, who holds significant influence in Maharashtra,” Mujawar said.
Seven Acquitted in Malegaon Blast Case
The Malegaon blast occurred nearly 17 years ago and involved the deaths of six people and injuries to over 100 others. A special NIA court recently acquitted all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, citing a lack of “reliable and cogent evidence.”
Initially, the ATS claimed that members of the right-wing group Abhinav Bharat were behind the attack. These claims included allegations of links to influential individuals and the use of MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) in the chargesheet.
However, once the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case, it identified major flaws in the ATS investigation, eventually leading to the dropping of charges under MCOCA.
Fabricated Investigations and Witness Hostility Raised
Mujawar made another serious allegation — that he was told to file a chargesheet showing deceased persons as alive. “When I refused, I was framed in a false case,” he claimed, pointing to actions taken by then-officer Param Bir Singh.
“I protested because I did not want to engage in false work,” said Mujawar.
The court trial began in 2018 and involved over 300 prosecution witnesses. However, many witnesses turned hostile. The court emphasized that convictions in terror cases cannot be based on suspicion and reaffirmed that terrorism has no religion.
Questions Raised on ATS Probe Integrity
In a further blow to the credibility of the original investigation, an inquiry has been initiated into an ATS officer accused of submitting fake medical certificates during the probe.
Mujawar welcomed the verdict, stating that justice had prevailed. He said the acquittals confirmed that the case was handled with prejudice and without substantial proof.
The recent court decision and the ex-officer’s claims could spark fresh debates over how terror cases are investigated, particularly those involving political or ideological angles.