2008 Malegaon Blast | Special Court Issues Fresh Bailable Warrant Against Pragya Thakur For 'Continuous' Non-Appearance In Court

A special court in Mumbai on Wednesday issued a fresh Bailable Warrant (BW) against right-wing extremist Pragya Singh Thakur for not remaining present before the court during the final hearing of the 2008 Malegaon Blast case.

Special Judge AK Lahoti noted that the Pragya did not appear before the court on Wednesday as was directed in an earlier order wherein a BW was issued for her continuous absence in the proceedings.

On Wednesday, Special Public Prosecutors Avinash Rasal and Anushree Rasal informed the court that Pragya was not living at the residential address at which the earlier BW was issued and thus the warrant could not be served upon her. The judge therefore issued a fresh warrant.

"Issue fresh BW of Rs.10,000 against accused no.1 (Pragya Thakur) as per new address given by her advocate. Make it returnable on December 2, 2024," Judge Lahoti said.

Notably, this is not the first time that the special court issued a BW against Thakur for her 'continuous' non-appearance in the special court. A similar such notice was issued in March 2024, however, the same was subsequently stayed after she appeared before the court.

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.

Thakur, along with six others, is facing trial in the case under various sections of IPC, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, Indian Arms Act, and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. The court is currently recording statements of the accused under Section 313 of CrPC.

Case no.: Special Case 100001/2016

Case Title: National Investigation Agency vs Pragya Singh Thakur