Sadhvi Pragya Thakur

New Delhi: Barely a month after being given a clean-chit by the National Investigation Agency, a Special NIA court today rejected the bail application of 2008 Malegaon blast case accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur. Special Judge S D Tekale rejected the bail plea in an in-camera hearing.

The court’s decision came after families of the blast victims objected to the bail plea.

“The NIA and the prosecution favoured granting bail to her but after the intervention of one of the victim’s son, the court rejected Thakur’s plea. The NIA’s NOC was discarded after the court’s independent view,” Wahab Khan, victim’s relative’s lawyer said.

"Court has said that prima facie and MCOCA cannot be dropped against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur," Khan added.

In her application, Pragya had contended that there was no evidence against her. Though the motorcycle used in the blast was owned by her, according to one of the witnesses, it was in the possession of Ramchandra Kalsangra, an absconding accused, she had said.

Some of the witnesses, whose statements were used to implicate her, later retracted and filed complaints of torture by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), her plea said.

Reacting to the development, Sadhvi's family said that they will approach High Court against Special NIA Court order.

Her lawyer Prashant Maggu had on May 30 filed the bail plea after the NIA had dropped all charged against her under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and decided to give a clean chit to six persons including Thakur in the 2008 blast case.

According to the NIA, the investigation had failed to find any substantial evidence that establishes the Thakur’s involvement in the blast.

Two powerful bombs which were placed on bicycles exploded near the Hamidia Mosque in Malegaon on September 8, 2006 after the Friday afternoon prayers on the occasion of the solemn 'Shab-E-Barat' when special prayers are offered for the departed souls.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad had probed the case first and arrested nine Muslim youth, some of whom were allegedly linked to the outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India. But in last April, the NIA informed the Special Designated Court that it had no evidences against the nine Muslim accused and thereafter the charges against them were dropped by the court.

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