AMN
A special NIA court in Mumbai has dropped the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act – MCOCA charges against all the 11 accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case.
While the prime accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and six others will face charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Arms Act, UAPA, three others namely Shyam Sahu, Shivnarayan Kalsangra and Praveen Takalki have been completely absolved from all charges in the case.
The special court said Sadhvi Pragya, Lt. Col Purohit, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Ajay Rahirkar will face trial under UAPA section dealing with terror and criminal conspiracy apart from several IPC sections dealing with murder and intentionally causing harm to others.
The court has however dropped charges related to raising fund for a terror organisation and being a part of it. Two other accused, Jagdish Mhatre and Rakesh Dhawde will face trial only under the Arms Act.
In today’s hearing, Special NIA Judge S D Tekale said Sadhvi Pragya Singh cannot be absolved of conspiracy charges as she was aware about the motorcycle being used for the blast. The court said all the accused will continue to remain out on bail.
The next hearing is scheduled on 15th January wherein the court has demanded presence of all the accused for formal framing of charges.