Ahead of the verdict in the 17-year-old Malegaon blast case, advocate Shahid Nadeem, representing the victims, said the trial felt like it was not just of the accused but of the victims too, who were forced to relive their trauma in court.

Nadeem recalled how over 100 injured victims had to travel 300 km from Nashik to Mumbai to testify, braving harsh weather conditions. “They had to show their wounds, damaged eyes, broken hands and recount where they were treated,” he said, reported news agency ANI. 

The remark came as all seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, appeared in the special NIA court. Nadeem also mentioned that during earlier proceedings under Judge Padalkar, accused No. 10, Swami Sudhakar Chaturvedi, denied that the blast even took place, prompting the court to summon victims to verify their injuries in person.