Following the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court's decision to acquit all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of fabricating the concept of "saffron terrorism" for political gain.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, CM Fadnavis stated, “The way the Congress-led UPA government conspired to set the narrative of saffron terrorism, Hindu terrorism, and prepared the entire Malegaon case – today it has been exposed.”

He further accused the Congress of using the case to serve its vote bank politics. “Congress tried to bring this narrative just to please a particular community and secure votes. They labeled an entire religion with terror – something our culture fundamentally rejects. The country has now understood the real face of this conspiracy.”

The Malegaon blast case, related to a 2008 explosion that killed six and injured over 100 in Nashik district’s Malegaon town, had seen high-profile arrests, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. After a legal battle spanning 17 years, the NIA court on Thursday acquitted all accused, citing lack of evidence.

Fadnavis reiterated the demand for an apology from the Congress party. “The nation is watching. What Congress did in the name of Hindu terror, what terms like ‘saffron terror’ implied — it was an insult to millions of Hindus. We demand that Congress apologise unconditionally to the people of this country,” he said.

Responding to queries on whether the state government will consider appealing the verdict, CM Fadnavis added, “We will examine the judgment in detail, and only after that, any decision on going to the upper court will be taken. But the facts emerging clearly show that this was a politically motivated conspiracy.”