Mumbai: The 2008 Malegaon blast accused Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit walked out of the Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday morning with a smile on his face. He was taken to the military station in Colaba and then escorted to his home in Pune, where his family was waiting for him. Purohit was granted interim bail after furnishing a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh on Monday.
Purohit, who was in jail for almost nine years for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, was driven out of prison in a car at around 10.45 am on Wednesday, escorted by a team of military police, the Army quick response team, along with 15 defence vehicles.
An officer attached to Taloja jail said that before leaving the premises, he thanked senior jail officials and departed on happy note. He also posed for pictures and waved to the mediapersons waiting outside for a glimpse of him.
Purohit was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Monday after his lawyer Harish Salve argued that he was acting as an Army mole, which is why he came into contact with the other accused. However, he had no role in planning the blasts that took place in Malegoan in 2008, which seven people died. Earlier, the Bombay High Court had refused his bail plea and Purohit had approached the Supreme Court.
According to the terms of the bail, Purohit’s passport will deposited in court and he will need the court’s permission to leave the country.
He has also been directed to appear in court as and when required and make himself available for any investigation by the National Investigation Agency.
After the news of Purohit’s release reached Pune, mediapersons gathered outside his home on Law College Road, awaiting his arrival. His wife Aparna Purohit said, “We have been waiting for this moment for so many years. My children were deprived of their father’s love for nine years. All I want is to see him with our two kids.”
She added, “It has been a tough fight. I had to leave my medical practice as I was handling all the legal procedures, while my parents in-law were taking care of our house and kids.
“We were confident that he would be released. Though he is out on bail, we are sure that he will be acquitted from all the charges soon. We will fight till that moment.”
