Mumbai, April 11 -- Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday congratulated Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier.

Recalling his acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, Shinde said that Lt Col Purohit's promotion serves as a "measure of solace".

"Heartfelt congratulations to Colonel Purohit, who was implicated in the Malegaon blast case during the Congress era through doctored evidence, on receiving his promotion to Brigadier. Colonel Purohit is a true patriot, and the court has acquitted him as innocent in the Malegaon case due to lack of evidence. This promotion serves as some measure of solace for the mental agony he has endured," the Shiv Sena leader wrote.

Lt Col Pur...