The Supreme Court on Wednesday has relaxed Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) charges against 2008 Malegaon accused ex-Army officer Shrikant Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh and others, except Rakesh Dhawade and directed them to approach trial court for bail. They all can appeal for bail in concerned court which can consider MCOCA on further stages.

“The Supreme Court has held that Puroit may not have committed the offence under MCOCA and remanded his bail application back to the trial court, to be heard on merits expeditiously in view of fact that SC does not find to connect him with any charges under MCOCA,” lawyer Neela Gokhale said.

The Additional Solicitor General in the, Anil Singh said, “The Court has passed an order but Davde’s appeal is dismissed for now. And other’s application will be reconsidered on merits by special court at Mumbai.”

Singh also said that in case of other accused the court has told that their bail application will be reconsidered by special court in Mumbai based on merits. “The Court has directed that any bail application can be filed within a month,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shrikant’s wife, Aparna Purohit said, “The path has been somewhat cleared but bail would be the ultimate relief for me.”

The blast in Malegoan on September 29, 2008, claimed lives of eight persons and injured seventy others.