New Delhi, May 17: The Special NIA Court on Friday issued an order, directing all accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case to appear before the bench at least once in a week. Among those who have to comply with the order includes BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.

The Malegaon blasts case dates back to over a decade, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging a terror plot behind the explosion in Maharashtra's Malegaon on September 28, 2008. Nine people were killed in the blast and more than a dozen injured. Father of Malegaon Blast Victim Moves NIA Court Seeking Cancellation of Pragya Thakur's Bail

Pragya Thakur is among the prime accused in the case, along with former Army personnel Lt Col Prasad Purohit. Both of them are currently on bail.

While Purohit's counsel had succeeded in seeking bail citing the alleged loopholes in the evidence presented against him, Pragya Thakur was released from police custody on medical grounds, after she reportedly suffered from cancer.

Sayyed Bilal, father of a Malegaon blast victim, had approached the NIA court last month after BJP announced Pragya Thakur as its candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat in the General Elections 2019.

Bilal, in his plea, demanded the immediate termination of her bail plea, arguing that Pragya Thakur's medical condition cannot be considered as basis of her bail as she is indulging in active electioneering.

On the campaign trail, Pragya Thakur had stoked a row after criticising former ATS officer Hemant Karkare, who died combating terrorists in Mumbai in November, 2008. The Hindutva activist-turned-politician said Karkare died within a couple of months after she "cursed" him for torturing her in jail.

Notably, Karkare was heading the ATS probe in the Malegaon terror attack case. On his direction, scores of Hindutva activists were rounded up, including Pragya Thakur was charged as "prime accused".

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 17, 2019 01:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).