New Delhi: Victims of the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast have expressed strong opposition to the transfer of Special Judge AK Lahoti, who has been overseeing the high-profile case since 2022. The case, which is nearing its conclusion, is expected to reach a verdict in the coming months, prompting victims to seek intervention from the Bombay High Court to halt the judge’s reassignment.

Judge Lahoti’s transfer was part of a list of 200 judicial reassignments announced by the Bombay High Court Registry on Saturday. The victims and their legal representatives have described the timing of his transfer as “devastating.”

Advocate Shahid Nadeem, who represents Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra, a group advocating for the victims, expressed concern over the frequent judicial changes. “This is the fifth time a judge has been transferred in the Malegaon blast case in the last 17 years,” said Nadeem. “Every time a new judge takes over, it takes months for him to get familiar with the case. At this stage, such a transfer is not just unhelpful – it’s unjust.”

The Malegaon blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, in the Muslim-majority town of Maharashtra, resulted in six deaths and injured more than 100 people, predominantly Muslims. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) initially investigated the case, attributing it to Hindu extremist groups. Several individuals were arrested, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit. Both are currently out on bail.

In response to the transfer announcement, lawyers representing the victims have written to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, urging him to retain Judge Lahoti until the verdict is delivered.