The Bombay High Court has authorized a significant religious event in Malegaon, which will feature Pragya Singh Thakur, a key figure in the 2008 Malegaon blast case and former Bhopal MP. Scheduled by the Sakal Hindu Samaj, the event is set to occur on Sunday and will last for four hours.
Initially, the Nashik administration denied permission for the event, citing concerns about law and order due to Thakur’s involvement. The 2008 Malegaon blast tragically resulted in six fatalities and over 100 injuries near a local mosque, with Thakur among those charged in connection with the incident. Another notable invitee, Milind Ekbote, has also faced legal scrutiny for purported hate speech.
Following a lack of formal response from local authorities, including the Nashik Collector and Tehsildar, event organizers, led by Rahul Bachav, sought a court intervention. They argued that officials had informally indicated the event would not receive approval and had warned of intervention if it proceeded without consent.
In light of the court ruling, the gathering, titled ‘Virat Hindu Sant Sammelan,’ is set to take place at Yashaswi Compound, Satana Naka, Malegaon, on March 30, coinciding with Gudi Padwa. The event will host several religious leaders, such as Swami Pragyanand Saraswati Maharaj and Nilesh Chandra Ji Maharaj.
Preparations for the event are already underway, with banners and posters positioned throughout Nashik.
