After AFT relief, acquittal in Malegaon case, Army promotes Colonel Purohit to Brigadier General

New Delhi: The Indian Army has approved the promotion of Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit to Brigadier General after he was acquitted in the Malegaon blast case and requested the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) that he should not retire until his promotion request is reviewed.Sources in the armed forces confirmed to TOI that “the order for the promotion of Colonel Purohit to Brigadier General was issued on Thursday”.The decision comes weeks after the Armed Forces Tribunal put a stay on Purohit’s planned retirement on March 31, 2026, allowing his pending promotion request to be reviewed first. Invoking the jurisdiction of the court under section 14 of the Armed Forces Courts Act 2007, the complainant claimed that he was denied promotion following his arrest in 2008, when he faced a lengthy criminal trial. He argued that delays in the judicial process denied him a fair chance at promotion within the Army hierarchy.The order was passed on March 16 by a bench comprising AFT chairman Justice Rajendra Menon and executive member Rasika Chaube. The court has issued notice to the Union government and other respondents asking them to explain why directions should not be issued to consider the officer for promotion to the rank of Brigadier General and grant all consequential service benefits at par with his colleagues or subordinates. Regarding the court order, The Times of India reported that “the Army will review the judgment and then take action as per policy provisions”.On July 31, the Mumbai NIA court acquitted Purohit and six others in the Malegaon blast case, holding that the prosecution failed to bring charges beyond reasonable doubt.Colonel Purohit was arrested in 2008 and was detained until 2017, when the Supreme Court granted bail. He subsequently resumed service in the Indian Army.