NEW DELHI: Indian Army has cleared Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit’s promotion to the rank of Brigadier following his acquittal in Malegaon blast case and his plea before the armed forces tribunal (AFT) that he should not be retired before his request for promotion is reviewed.“The order to promote Col Purohit to the rank of Brigadier came on Thursday,” sources in the armed forces confirmed to TOI.The decision comes weeks after an armed forces tribunal halted Purohit’s scheduled retirement on March 31, 2026, allowing his pending promotion request to be reviewed first. Invoking the jurisdiction of the tribunal under Section 14 of Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, the applicant had contended that he was denied promotion while facing a long criminal trial after his arrest in 2008. He argued that delay in the judicial process had denied him a fair opportunity for promotion within the Army hierarchy.A bench comprising AFT chairperson Justice Rajendra Menon and administrative member Rasika Chaube passed the order on March 16. It had issued notice to Union govt and other respondents, asking them to explain why directives should not be issued to consider the officer’s case for promotion to rank of Brigadier and grant of all consequential service benefits on a par with his batchmates or subordinates. On the tribunal order, TOI had reported that “Army will examine the judgment and thereafter take action as per policy provisions”.On July 31, Mumbai NIA court had acquitted Purohit and six others in the Malegaon blast case, observing that prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.Arrested in 2008, Col Purohit remained in custody until 2017, when he was granted bail by the Supreme Court. He subsequently resumed service in Indian Army.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosDelhi Police Crack Down on ISI-Linked Spy Module, 10 Arrested; Second Network Busted After Pan-India Surveillance Plot’Chokepoints Now A Global Anxiety’: Jaishankar Invokes West Asia Crisis At Indian Ocean ConferenceMathura: Boat Carrying Devotees Capsizes In Yamuna; 10 Bodies Recovered, Rescue Ops OnQatar Assures Reliable Energy Supply To India Amid West Asia Crisis After Hardeep Puri’s Doha VisitPakistan-ISI Spy Network Busted: 11 Arrested For Recce Of Military Sites Across North IndiaCentre Notifies CAPF General Administration Act 2026; Families, Retired Officers Protest in DelhiJustice Yashwant Varma Resigns Amid Cash Row — Why He Stepped Down On Day Of Impeachment Defence’Win A War Without Firing?’ CDS Anil Chauhan Explains Shift From Battlefield To Perception WarfareExercise Brahmastra: Indian army’s first firing from the AH-64E Apache attack helicoptersMarco Rubio’s India Visit Next Month After Talks With Vikram Misri in Washington123PhotostoriesFrom Vivek Dahiya getting emotional during Divyanka Tripathi’s pregnancy scan to pampering her midnight cravings, the couple share their journeyHow to differentiate between naturally and chemically ripened banana: FSSAI’s rulebook on ripening temperature for the fruit4 high-profile business family feuds that made headlines globally5 things that make Bandhavgarh National Park irresistible to nature loversFrom Yashasvi Jaiswal-Maddie Hamilton to Hardik Pandya-Mahieka Sharma: 5 Indian cricketers and their rumoured girlfriendsGold or platinum with diamonds: Which one actually makes you look richer?Chef Sanjeev Kapoor shares secrets on how to use moong (whole, split with skin, and split skinless) for maximum benefitsShubman Gill’s new house in Juhu, Mumbai is a ₹20 crore luxury apartment with sea views, full-floor privacy and luxury amenitiesWant love that lasts? 5 phrases that can save your relationshipChild’s roti and sugar for school lunch goes viral: 13 school tiffin meals that all 90s kids can relate to123Hot PicksIran war ceasefirePAN Card application 2026Purple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingStephen Curry charityLaura Loomer reactionIndia Lebanon civilianRajouri grenade recoveryUS stock marketPAN Card application 2026Hinjewadi Metro lineUS inflationSchool Holidays in AprilLaken Snelling case
NEW DELHI: Indian Army has cleared Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit’s promotion to the rank of Brigadier following his acquittal in Malegaon blast case and his plea before the armed forces tribunal (AFT) that he should not be retired before his request for promotion is reviewed.“The order to promote Col Purohit to the rank of Brigadier came on Thursday,” sources in the armed forces confirmed to TOI.The decision comes weeks after an armed forces tribunal halted Purohit’s scheduled retirement on March 31, 2026, allowing his pending promotion request to be reviewed first. Invoking the jurisdiction of the tribunal under Section 14 of Armed Forces Tribunal Act, 2007, the applicant had contended that he was denied promotion while facing a long criminal trial after his arrest in 2008. He argued that delay in the judicial process had denied him a fair opportunity for promotion within the Army hierarchy.A bench comprising AFT chairperson Justice Rajendra Menon and administrative member Rasika Chaube passed the order on March 16. It had issued notice to Union govt and other respondents, asking them to explain why directives should not be issued to consider the officer’s case for promotion to rank of Brigadier and grant of all consequential service benefits on a par with his batchmates or subordinates. On the tribunal order, TOI had reported that “Army will examine the judgment and thereafter take action as per policy provisions”.On July 31, Mumbai NIA court had acquitted Purohit and six others in the Malegaon blast case, observing that prosecution had failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.Arrested in 2008, Col Purohit remained in custody until 2017, when he was granted bail by the Supreme Court. He subsequently resumed service in Indian Army.
