The Indian Army has approved the promotion of Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit to the rank of Brigadier. The Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) has stayed his retirement and directed the Central government to reconsider his plea. Purohit was scheduled to retire on March 31, 2026, but AFT has issued a notice to the Defense Ministry, stalling his retirement for the time being. It has also been said that retirement will not be implemented until the final decision is taken on his statutory complaint.
Lt Col Purohit had filed a petition in the AFT saying that the lengthy judicial process in the 2008 Malegaon blast case had seriously affected his military career. He said that due to this case, he could not get the opportunity of promotion on time, which hindered his service progress.
On July 31, Mumbai’s NIA court had acquitted all the accused including Purohit in the Malegaon blast case. The court said that the prosecution failed to prove the charges and could not present any concrete evidence. The case lasted nearly 17 years, involving the questioning of hundreds of witnesses and a lengthy investigative process.
A total of 11 people were accused in this case, but ultimately charges were framed against 7. The other accused who were acquitted along with Purohit include former MP Sadhvi Pragya, Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay, Sudhakar Chaturvedi, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dhar Dwivedi (Shankaracharya) and Sameer Kulkarni.
On 29 September 2008, an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque in the Bhikku Chowk area of Malegaon city in Maharashtra. 6 people were killed in this attack, while 95 people were injured. The case was initially investigated by Maharashtra ATS, but in 2011 it was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
All the accused were acquitted of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act and all other charges. After the order of AFT, now the Defense Ministry will have to take a final decision on Purohit’s complaint. After getting approval for promotion by the Army, his path to becoming Brigadier is considered almost clear.
This case not only pertains to the career of an army officer, but also shows how a lengthy judicial process can impact one’s professional life.
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