Bombay High Court Discharges Four Accused in 2006 Malegaon Blast Case

April 22, 2026 : The Bombay High Court has officially discharged four men previously accused in the 2006 Malegaon blast case, effectively quashing a special court’s earlier decision to frame charges against them. A judicial bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Shyam Chandak granted the appeals of Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh, Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria, and Lokesh Sharma. These individuals had originally faced serious allegations under the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for murder and criminal conspiracy.

The case stems from the September 8, 2006, bombings in Malegaon, Nashik, where four explosions targeted the Hamidia Masjid, Bada Kabrastan, and Mushawarat Chowk, resulting in 31 deaths and over 300 injuries. While the state’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) initially detained nine Muslim men, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) later shifted the focus of the probe toward right-wing extremist groups. This High Court ruling follows the petitioners’ challenge to a September 2025 order by a special court that had initially allowed the prosecution to proceed.