[Malegaon Blast Case] Mumbai Court Directs Pragya Thakur To Appear 'Without Fail' From April 20 Onwards To Record Statement In Trial

A Special NIA Court in Mumbai today ordered BJP MP Pragya Thakur, prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon Blast case, to appear before the court without fail from April 20, 2024, onwards to record her statement in the ongoing trial.

Special Judge AK Lahoti allowed her exemption from appearance only for today after NIA submitted a report verifying that her doctor had advised her to take bed rest.

“Considering the aforesaid report, it can be said that accused no. 1 is ill and doctor has advise her to take bed rest. If any further information pertaining to health of accused no.1 is received by NIA, they should immediately report/inform to the court…Accused no. 1 to remain present on 20.04.2024 and onwards for her statement without fail. Ld. Advocate for accused no. 1 to take a note of it and inform their client accordingly. In terms of above the exemption application is allowed for today only.”

On April 3, 2024, Thakur filed an application seeking exemption from appearance on health grounds. In the application, she stated that she has sought medical treatment in Bhopal, and the doctor has recommended bed rest, with a medical certificate annexed to the application.

In that application, the court had passed an order directing the National Investigation Agency to verify Thakur's health condition in light of her continued absence from the trial on medical grounds, observing that her continued absence is hampering the trial proceedings.

“The presence of accused no.1 is necessary to record her statement u/s 313 of Cr.P.C. Due to her absence, it is hampering the court proceeding…I am of the view that, verification of health condition report requires to call from NIA in order to verify the actual position / situation”, the court had said.

Today, NIA officer Chorge submitted the compliance report to the court. As per the report, visited Sarvottam Hospital in Bhopal (MP) and informed the concerned doctor about the order passed by the court on April 3, 2024. The medical certificate annexed with the compliance report depicts that the doctor visited Thakur's house on March 30, 2024, and advised her to take rest.

Thus, the court allowed her exemption for today but ordered her to remain present from April 20, 2024.

Earlier, the court had issued a bailable warrant owing to Thakur's repeated non-appearance in the matter. However, the court later cancelled the warrant considering her “ill health” 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. – Spl. Case 100001/2016

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

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