The Bombay High Court has officially closed the criminal proceedings against four men who were accused in the 2006 Malegaon blast case. The decision follows a lengthy legal process spanning nearly two decades, ultimately resulting in the discharge of the individuals due to a lack of incriminating evidence linking them to the terror attack.

The case pertains to the serial explosions that occurred near a mosque in Malegaon on September 8, 2006, which resulted in the loss of 37 lives and left over 100 people injured. The investigation was initially handled by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and eventually to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

A division bench of the High Court noted that the NIA, in its subsequent investigation, had found no evidence to prosecute these four individuals. The agency had previously informed the trial court that the evidence gathered by the initial investigating agencies was not sufficient to sustain charges against them. The High Court's order formally ends the litigation for these accused, affirming the trial court's earlier decision to discharge them.

The court observed that continuing the trial against individuals where the primary investigating agency has found no merit would be an exercise in futility and a violation of their rights. This closure marks a significant milestone in one of India's most complex terror investigations, which saw multiple theories and sets of accused persons over the years.

While the case against these four individuals stands closed, the legal process concerning other aspects of the investigation and different sets of accused remains subject to the ongoing judicial framework. The ruling highlights the judiciary's role in ensuring that criminal trials are based on robust evidence and that individuals are not subjected to indefinite prosecution in the absence of a clear link to the alleged crimes.