A witness in the 2008 Malegaon blast case alleged that he was forced by the officers of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to implicate Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in the case.
The witness, Milind Joshi Rao, made the allegation in his testimony to the court.
Special Judge A.K. Lahoti, who on Thursday acquitted all seven accused in the case, stated that he could not rely on the witness's statement to the ATS, as the witness had submitted to the court that it was given involuntarily. The over 1,000-page judgment was made available on Friday.
Rao said he was also forced to name RSS member Indresh Kumar, former BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Hindu seer and former RSS member Swami Aseemanand, and Professor Deodhar in the case.
Rao, during his testimony to the court, also alleged that the ATS had treated him like an accused.
"They (ATS officers) were telling him to take the names of Yogi Adityanath, Asimanand Indresh Kumar, Devdhar, Pragya and Kakaji in his statement," the court noted in its verdict.
When the witness refused to toe the line, the then Deputy Commissioner of Police Shrirao and Assistant Commissioner of Police Param Bir Singh allegedly showed him the fear of torture and extended threats.
The court, in its verdict, noted that the victim's statement raises doubts regarding its admissibility and authenticity, as it was made involuntarily.
On Thursday, the special NIA court acquitted seven people, including Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, noting that the prosecution had failed to adduce cogent and reliable evidence to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
