Malegaon blast accused Purohit walks out of jail after 9 years

Raigad (Maharashtra)/Mumbai, August 23 (IANS): After remaining in jail for nine years, Lt. Col. Prasad S. Purohit — one of the prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast — walked out of Taloja prison in Maharashtra’s Raigad on Wednesday.

As soon as he stepped out, Purohit was escorted by an army team to a waiting vehicle and left for an army unit at Colaba in Mumbai.

As per army protocol, after any suspended army man is freed on bail, he must report to his unit commander or senior officer within 24 hours.

Later, he went to the Sessions Court in Mumbai to complete the remainder of his conditional bail formalities with his lawyers.

“I am very happy to return into the service of the Indian Army. It is the best organisation in the country. I am keen to wear my army uniform again,” he commented briefly to a battery of waiting media persons outside the court on Wednesday afternoon.

On Tuesday, awaiting his formal release from the jail, Purohit said the army would take a decision on his future action regarding the case and other related aspects.

It is not clear what further steps the military authorities will take pertaining to his suspension, reinstatement in service and posting details including whether in Pune, Mumbai or elsewhere.

Granted bail by the Supreme Court on Monday, Purohit is accused of being part of the conspiracy hatched for carrying out the September 29, 2008, blast in Malegaon, a Muslim-dominated town in Nashik district.

Seven persons were killed and scores injured in the blast, considered the handiwork of a right-wing group, Abhinav Bharat.