NIA Court refuses bail to Sadhvi Pragya in Malegaon blast case

28 June, Mumbai

Mumbai’s Special NIA Court Tuesday has refused bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

Despite NIA dropping all charges against Thakur; the court took an independent view and said that prima facie charges under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act – MCOCA cannot be dropped.

While the National Investigation Agency – NIA had not opposed Sadhvi Pragya’s bail petition; one of the injured victims, Nisar Bilal had objected the bail petition.

In an intervention application; 64- year old Bilal had asked the court to discard NIA’s charge sheet and allow the trial as per the investigation conducted by ATS. Atleast six people were killed and about 100 were injured in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts case. The NIA took over the case in 2011.