Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Hails Brigadier Purohit as "True Patriot" After Promotion
In a significant development from Kolhapur, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde took to social media platform X on Saturday to extend heartfelt congratulations to Colonel Prasad Purohit on his promotion to the rank of Brigadier. Shinde described the military officer as a "true patriot" in his public message, marking a notable moment in a long-standing legal saga.
Promotion Follows Acquittal in 2008 Malegaon Blast Case
The promotion comes directly after Brigadier Purohit's complete acquittal in the high-profile 2008 Malegaon blast case by a Special NIA Court on July 31, 2025. This legal resolution concludes a protracted judicial battle that began with Purohit's initial arrest in 2008. The Supreme Court granted him bail in August 2017, subsequently allowing him to resume his military duties while the trial proceedings continued. The recent Mumbai court decision cleared him of all charges, explicitly citing insufficient evidence to sustain the allegations against him.
In his detailed social media post, Deputy CM Shinde wrote: "Heartfelt congratulations to Colonel Purohit on receiving his well-deserved promotion. He was wrongfully implicated in the Malegaon blast case during the Congress era through manipulated and doctored evidence. Colonel Purohit has demonstrated himself to be a true patriot, and the court has now rightfully acquitted him. This promotion serves as some measure of solace for the immense mental agony and professional disruption he has endured over these many years."
Shinde Defends Helicopter Use for Agricultural Activities
During a subsequent visit to his native Dare village, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde also addressed mounting criticism from opposition parties regarding his use of a helicopter to reach his farmland for agricultural purposes. Speaking directly to gathered media representatives, Shinde stated: "I am the proud son of a farmer, and I genuinely love farming and agricultural work. A few people seem to develop a 'stomach ache' over my regular visits to my land; what can I possibly say to them? My time as a public servant is extremely valuable, so I travel by whatever mode of transportation saves the most time efficiently."
He added with a pointed jibe at his critics: "Soon, I am actually going to plant specific trees that are traditionally good for curing stomach aches and digestive issues."
Agricultural Initiatives and Modernization Push
The deputy chief minister spent several hours on his agricultural land this Saturday, personally planting saplings of various exotic and traditional crops. He detailed his activities: "Today I planted apricot, avocado, and plum saplings. The avocado plants will yield fruit in approximately three years, and our existing apple plants are already in the flowering stage. We are also implementing large-scale coffee plantation projects in this entire region to diversify agricultural output."
Shinde emphasized that modernizing agricultural practices is absolutely essential to prevent mass rural migration to overcrowded cities. He highlighted that tourism-related projects are being actively developed in the nearby Koyna region specifically to provide local farmers with additional, sustainable income streams beyond traditional farming.
"In our current era of climate change and global warming, planting more trees is literally the need of the hour," Shinde asserted. "Whenever I visit any area, I make sure that as many trees as possible are planted to enhance environmental sustainability." He strongly urged farmers across Maharashtra to experiment with innovative approaches including cash crops, organic farming techniques, and community-led agricultural cooperatives to move decisively beyond conventional, less productive methods.
