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Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit: Profile, Wiki, Family, Wife and Controversy



🧭 Introduction: Who Is Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit?

Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit is a decorated officer of the Indian Army’s Maratha Light Infantry and Military Intelligence. Born in Pune into a middle‑class Maharashtrian Brahmin family, he graduated from Abhinav Vidyalaya and Garware College. He was commissioned in 1994 from the Officers’ Training Academy, Chennai (NDTV).

Military Career & Intelligence Service

  • Early Years (1994–2002): Posted in Jammu & Kashmir, Purohit later joined MI‑25—the Intelligence Field Security Unit—tasked with monitoring threats along the India–Pakistan border (NDTV).

  • Counter‑Terrorism Operations (2002–2005): Played key roles in several intelligence missions in J&K, working closely with elite MI units (NDTV).

  • Pune & Madhya Pradesh Postings: Later served at a liaison unit in Deolali near Nashik, and learned Arabic in Panchmarhi at an Army Education Corps training centre (NDTV).

The Malegaon Bomb Blast Case (September 2008)

Tragic Incident

On 29 September 2008, a bomb concealed within an LML Freedom motorcycle exploded near Shakil Goods Transport Company in Malegaon, claiming seven lives and injuring around 100 people (Hindustan Times).

Arrest & Charges

Investigations by Maharashtra’s ATS arrested Purohit, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur—alleging they funded, procured RDX, organized meetings via Abhinav Bharat, and conspired in the attack (NDTV).

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later took over the case in 2011.

The Defense: Undercover or Conspirator?

Purohit staunchly denied all charges:

  • Undercover Intelligence Operator: He claimed infiltration of Abhinav Bharat was sanctioned, with full briefings to Army superiors (Hindustan Times, NDTV, Wikipedia).

  • Torture & Fabrication: In May 2024, he claimed ATS officers tortured him—breaking his right knee and coercing him to implicate senior RSS, VHP figures, and then-MP Yogi Adityanath (India Today). He also alleged witnesses were tortured and statements fabricated (Hindustan Times).

Court Proceedings & Bail

  • Dilutions in Evidence: Delhi witnesses began retracting earlier accusations, weakening the prosecution’s case .

  • Supreme Court Bail (2017): After nearly nine years in jail, he secured bail. The Court noted “material contradictions” between ATS and NIA chargesheets (Times of India).

  • Ongoing Legal Battle: In early 2023, both Bombay HC and the Supreme Court rejected his pleas for discharge, keeping the matter before the NIA special court .

Recent Developments & Controversies

  • May 2024 Torture Allegations: Purohit’s testimony claiming physical torture to extract false confessions made headlines in multiple outlets (OpIndia).

  • NIA Court Rebuttal: In court, Purohit publicly denied knowing Swami Aseemanand in the 2007 Mecca Masjid bomb case, diverging from earlier statements (Wikipedia).

  • Jurisprudence & Rights: His defense focuses on human rights violations, claim of fabricated evidence, and procedural issues—sparking debates on intelligence‑agency accountability.

Personality & Personal Profile

  • Family & Upbringing: Son of a bank official, from a middle‑class Maharashtrian family with strong values (NDTV).

  • Character: Described by peers as soft‑spoken, zealous, and fiercely patriotic .

  • Service Ethos: A 2012 Court of Inquiry featured testimony from 59 army officers supporting his undercover account and emphasizing his professional integrity (NDTV).

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  • “Lt. Col. Purohit Torture Allegations 2024”

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  • “Abhinav Bharat Inside Story”

  • “Army Officer Accused of Terrorism”

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🔍 Top Interesting Facts About Prasad Shrikant Purohit

  1. First Armyman Booked for Terrorism: His name marked a historic low for the Army in 2011 (NDTV).

  2. Nine Years in Custody: Spent nearly a decade in Taloja prison before bail released him in August 2017 (NDTV).

  3. Court of Inquiry Exoneration: 59 army witnesses backed his undercover operations .

  4. Political Pressure Allegation: Claimed Sharad Pawar’s “Hindu terror” remark predated the blast and set the narrative agenda (India Today).

  5. Torture Testimony: Reports allege he was beaten, knee broken, and coerced to implicate prominent right-wing figures (India Today).

🧠 FAQs About Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit

Q1. Is Lt. Col. Purohit still serving in the Army?
No. Following his bail in 2017, he reported to Southern Command on suspension. His service status remains under military and legal review .

Q2. What is Abhinav Bharat, and what is his connection?
Abhinav Bharat, founded in 2006 by Ramesh Upadhyay and Purohit, aimed at forging Hindu Rashtra; ATS alleges it planned violence. Purohit claims he infiltrated it on military orders (Wikipedia).

Q3. Was he tortured during interrogation?
Yes. Purohit alleged ATS officers tortured him, broke his knee, and forced false confessions in May 2024 submissions (India Today).

Q4. What does the current trial status look like?
As of early 2025, his attempt to be discharged was rejected by HC and SC in 2023. The trial proceeds under NIA in a special court .

Q5. Could he return to active duty?
Return is unlikely until legal clearance. Meanwhile, Army remains cautious; no reinstatement until case resolution.

✅ Final Take

Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit’s story is a bold indictment of modern India’s tangled relationship between national security, legal processes, and ideological politics. His high‑profile case has triggered debates over:

  • The blurring lines between covert intelligence duties and extremist ideologies

  • The ethics and legality of ATS interrogation methods

  • The state’s use of anti‑terror laws like UAPA and MCOCA

  • The Army’s duty to its personnel versus national security optics

Until judicial verdicts end this ambiguity, Purohit remains a polarizing figure—viewed by some as a falsely accused patriot, by others as part of a Hindu terrorist network.


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