2008 Malegaon Blast Case: Bailable Warrant Issued Against Pragya Thakur Cancelled After She Appears Before NIA Court

Former BJP parliamentarian and prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case- Pragya Singh Thakur on Friday personally appeared before a special NIA court and claimed that her 'poor health' at present is because of the 'torture' to which she was subjected by Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) under the then Congress government.

Notably, the special court had in November 2024 issued a bailable warrant against Thakur as she had not appeared before it since June 2024.

Pursuant to the orders of the Special Judge AK Lahoti, the former MP from Bhopal appeared before the court on Friday and apprised the judge about her health conditions. She told the court that her health was in a bad shape because she was meted out to tremendous torture by the ATS sleuths. 

Having heard her personally, the judge asked her to come to the court again on the next date in February first week. Since she appeared in the court personally, the judge quashed the bailable warrant issued against her. 

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. 

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.