NIA Court Directs Appearance Of BJP MP Pragya Thakur In Connection With Malegaon Blast Case, Warns Of 'Necessary Steps' On Failure To Comply

A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai recently directed BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, to appear before it starting from Tuesday for the recording of statements.

Special Judge AK Lahoti passed the order on Thursday, February 22, granting Thakur's plea for exemption for the day on medical grounds and warning of "necessary steps" if she fails to appear from February 27, 2024.

“Now pertaining to present application filed on behalf of accused no. 1, it can be said that, the medication is going on. Therefore, it can be considered for today only…Accused No. 1 to remain present on 27.02.2024 and onwards without fail, else, the necessary steps will be taken”, the court stated.

Thakur, along with eleven 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.

The court noted that Thakur and some other accused have not been attending the court regularly on the fixed date. The court highlighted that some accused, including Thakur, who are residents of other states, have cited difficulty in obtaining tickets at the last minute as a reason for their absence.

The court pointed out that dates for appearances are given in advance to all accused to address this issue, eliminating the grounds for exemption on such grounds. The court considered Thakur's plea for exemption on medical grounds for the day due to ongoing medication but directed her to be present from February 27 onwards without fail.

Further, the court emphasized that all accused must remain present on the fixed dates assigned to them until the completion of the recording of their statements. It highlighted that staying in Mumbai and seeking medication in the city in case of ill health is a feasible option for the accused.

“It is also necessary to mention that all the accused to remain present on the fixed dates given to them till completion of statement under Section 313 of Cr.P.C. Needless to say that, for this purpose, they could stay at Mumbai and if there is a ill- health, they could get medication at Mumbai also”, said 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.

Case no. – Spl. Case 100001/2016

Case Title – National Investigation Agency v. Pragyasingh Chandrapalsingh Thakur and Ors

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