2008 Malegaon Blast: Special Court Sets New Date For Pragya Thakur's Appearance, NIA Says Could Not Serve Summons

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) told a Special Court in Mumbai on Monday that it could not serve summons to the 2008 Malegaon Blast accused, Pragya Singh Thakur. 

The NIA's reason for not serving the summons was that Pragya was not at her residential address. 

The Special Public Prosecutor told the Court that Pragya was not well and had been hospitalized for the last 2 months.

The Special Court thus set a new date for Pragya's appearance on December 30, 2024.

Notably, this is not the first time NIA told the Court that it could not serve summons to Pragya.

On 13 November, the NIA had informed the Court that Pragya was not living at the residential address at which the earlier Bailable Warrant was issued and that the warrant could not be served upon her. Noting Pragya's continuous absence in the proceedings, Special Judge AK Lahoti had issued a fresh Bailable Warrant against her for not remaining present before the court during the final hearing of the 2008 Malegaon Blast case. 

The Malegaon blast, which occurred on September 29, 2008, resulted in six fatalities and over 100 injuries when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in the town of Malegaon, located approximately 200 km from Mumbai in north Maharashtra.

Initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, the case was later transferred to the NIA in 2011. Pragya Singh Thakur, who is currently serving as a BJP Member of Parliament from Bhopal, is among the accused in the case.

Case Title: National Investigation Agency vs Pragya Singh Thakur

Case no.: Special Case 100001/2016