New Delhi, October 30: A special NIA court on Tuesday framed charges against all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case. All seven accused including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya were charged for terror conspiracy, murder and other related offences. All seven accused pleaded not guilty after framing of charges. The trial against the accused will begin on November 2, which is the next date of hearing.

On Monday, the Bombay High Court had refused to stay framing of charges by the trial court. A bench of Justices SS Shinde and AS Gadkari had, however, agreed to hear next month, a petition filed by Purohit, one of the seven accused in the case, challenging his prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Malegaon Blasts Case: Colonel Purohit Moves Supreme Court Seeking SIT Probe Into Alleged Torture in Custody.

It directed the National Investigation Agency (NIA) counsel Sandesh Patil to file a reply to Purohit’s plea by November 21, the next date of hearing. The bench had refused Purohit’s request for staying the proceedings in the trial court, noting that in the past, both the Supreme Court and the Bombay HC had passed orders directing the trial court to expedite the hearing in the case.

Earlier this year, Purohit had moved the Supreme Court seeking an SIT probe into allegations of torture allegedly meted out to him in custody. Purohit had in a 24-page letter to National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) alleged that he was tortured in the custody of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

On September 29, 2008, six people were killed and 101 were injured after a bomb exploded in Nashik’s Malegaon town. In November 2008, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested 11 people in this connection. However, in April 2011, the investigation was transferred to the NIA.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 30, 2018 02:27 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).