The Indian Army has cleared Colonel Shrikant Purohit for promotion to the rank of Brigadier, despite being acquitted in the 2008 Malegaon blast case last July.
Purohit, who spent almost nine years in judicial custody, had recently approached the Armed Forces Tribunal arguing that the long trial had affected his career progression.
He was to retire on March 31 this year, but the tribunal put his retirement on hold, allowing him to serve for two more years as Brigadier.
Purohit was arrested for his alleged involvement in the September 29, 2008 blast in Maharashtra's Malegaon that killed six people.
The Mumbai NIA court acquitted Purohit and six others in the Malegaon blast case, observing that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
