Malegaon trial: Key witness turns hostile, says was tortured
In the ongoing Malegaon 2008 blast trial, Milind Joshirao—a trustee of Abhinav Bharat and a key witness—has turned hostile in court.
He now claims that Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) officers detained and tortured him back in 2008, pressuring him to falsely name UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and top RSS leaders as part of the conspiracy behind the blast.
Joshirao also denied attending a crucial meeting where Abhinav Bharat was allegedly formed.
Joshirao's testimony complicates matters for prosecution
Joshirao's testimony is a blow to the prosecution, which alleges that Lt Col Prasad Purohit and others planned violent acts to create a "Hindu Rashtra."
With Joshirao calling his earlier statement forced, there are fresh doubts about evidence against Adityanath and other leaders.
The trial continues, with conflicting stories making things even more complicated.