The Supreme Court has asked the trial court hearing 2008 Malegaon blast case, to consider the bail plea of accused, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, within a month. The apex court also asked the trial court not to consider Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, MCOCA, provisions while deciding bail pleas of Sadhvi Pragya, Lt. Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit?, and others accused in the case.
The Court however, said that MCOCA provisions can apply on accused Rakesh Dattatreya Dhawade a Pune-based weapons expert. The case is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency. Sadhvi Pragya is accused with others in blast at Malegaon in Nashik district on 29th of September 29 2008, in which six people died.
A bench of Justices FMI Kalifulla and Abhay Manohar Sapre said there was no concrete evidence to show their involvement in any other criminal case and the trial court should decide their bail plea on merit, preferably within one month. It said that there was “considerable doubt” about the involvement of 6 accused, including Purohit and Pragya, in Malegaon blasts and that the trial court ought to hear their bail plea afresh. It said MCOCA was applicable only against one of the accused, Rakesh Dhawde, who was chargehseeted in two other cases as well. However, NIA disputes this version and has previously opposed bail for him