The Malegaon blast case has been decided by the trial court today and acquitted all the accused including ex BJP MP from Bhopal Pragya Thakur and retd colonel Purohit. The verdict has not come as a surprise and given the sociopolitical situation, people had expected similar outcome. The question however lies with the professional competence of the NIA, which has failed to establish the facts in two of the most sensitive terror cases in the country, within a gap of one week. Irrespective of the political fallout and the damage to our national discourse, the credibility of the premier investigation agency is in shambles and this means the government cannot be trusted with law enforcement. While the Maharashtra government went on an appeal against the high court ruling last week, it needs to be seen if it challenges the lower court decision here. While the incompetence of our criminal investigation system is no longer any news, this case is peculiar. In 2016 after the modi government assumed office, the NIA made a U Turn, in the court and facilitated bail for the accused. For 9 years the accused enjoyed bail, even entered the Lok Sabha and evaded summons. Suddenly in April this year the NIA again changed its position and demanded death sentences for the accused, and they all stand acquitted. Looking at the tortuous history of the trial, where public prosecutors recused citing pressure to go slow and frequent change of judges, it seems like the investigation was not free and fair. When the case seemed tight, as investigated by the late brave heart Hemant karkare, the NIA did not oppose bail and after 9 years when the case appeared weakened, it suddenly demands death sentences.The media slugfest has already begun. The saffron brigade has latched onto the opportunity and blamed the UPA government of fabricating and coining the false term of saffron terror, while the opposition is casting doubt over the investigation and prosecution.
NIA is unfit for investigating terror cases
