On Thursday( 25th April),Accused BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur appears before special court for final statement in 2008 Malegaon blast case, following repeated absences citing medical reasons.
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MUMBAI: On Thursday( 25th April), Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJP’s Bhopal MP and an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, finally appeared before a special court to record her final statement regarding the case.
This appearance comes after several instances where Thakur had failed to appear before the court, citing medical illness as the reason. The special court had previously issued a warning, stating that if Thakur failed to appear on April 25, appropriate action would be taken.
Despite her presence in court, Thakur maintained that she was still unwell. To adhere to the court’s requirements, Thakur submitted her statement in a question-answer format. Additionally, she filed an application seeking permission to provide her thumb impression instead of a signature due to sudden weakness in her palms. The court granted her request, allowing her to proceed.
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Pragya Singh Thakur, along with six other individuals, is currently facing trial for their alleged involvement in the Malegaon bomb blast case. The charges against them include various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosive Substances Act, Indian Arms Act, and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
The special court, which handles cases investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), is presently recording the statements of the accused under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). These statements serve as the final remarks of the accused before the closing arguments and subsequent judgment.
Special court judge A K Lahoti has scheduled further recording of the statements for Friday, ensuring a comprehensive examination of the case. The Malegaon blast, which took place on September 29, 2008, resulted in the loss of six lives and left over 100 individuals injured. The explosive device, affixed to a motorcycle, detonated near a mosque in Malegaon, a town located approximately 200 km from Mumbai in Nashik district, north Maharashtra.
Initially investigated by Maharashtra’s Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), the case was later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for further scrutiny. Last month, when Thakur failed to appear before the court, a bailable warrant was issued against her.
ALSO READ: BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur| 2008 Malegaon Blast Case | Mumbai Court Stayed Warrant Execution
However, she personally attended the court session, leading to the cancellation of the warrant. The special court had previously cautioned Thakur about the consequences of her non-compliance with the court’s directives to record her statement.
