Maharashtra's NIA court on Tuesday issued a bailable warrant against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pragya Singh Thakur, accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, for not appearing in the proceedings. Special Judge AK Lahoti said that the debate has reached the final stage and the presence of the accused is necessary. He issued a bailable warrant of Rs 10,000 against Pragya Singh Thakur.
Pragya Thakur will have to appear in the court by 13th November to get the warrant cancelled. Citing his health problems, the BJP leader's lawyer requested the special court for NIA cases to give him reasonable time to appear.
But the court found that accused number one Pragya Thakur has not appeared in the proceedings since June 4. The special judge said that his previous applications for exemption on the basis of illness and hospitalization were considered from time to time. Rejecting her petition, the court said that today along with the application form, a copy of the medical certificate was also given, which shows that she is undergoing Ayurvedic treatment, but the original certificate has not been attached.
On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and more than 100 were injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque in Malegaon city of North Maharashtra, about 200 kilometers from Mumbai. Judge AK Lahoti The case is in its final stages with the final statements of the accused being recorded and the accused have been charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Pragya Thakur, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit and five others have been booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for their alleged involvement in the blast conspiracy. The case was initially investigated by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Maharashtra and was handed over to the NIA in 2011.
