Pune, Aug. 3 -- Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, recently acquitted in the Malegaon blast case by NIA court, was given a grand welcome at his society in Pune on Sunday.

Visuals from his society showed people showering him with petals, and bursting crackers and holding up posters which said 'welcome kaka,' expressing their gratitude for his return. Purohit also visited, along with his wife, the Hanuman mandir in his society, with a crowd of people watching him offer prasad and pray at the mandir.

Expressing gratitude for his return to society, he mentioned that the people were ready to welcome him, but he told them that unless he gets an acquittal, he would not be returning.

"They always wanted to welcome me. But I had said that till...