Malegaon blast case: NIA gives clean chit to Sadhvi, dilutes charges against others

Mumbai, May 13

In a U-turn, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday dropped all charges against Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and five others in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, while charges under the stringent MCOCA law have been dropped against all the other 10 accused, including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit.

During investigation, “sufficient evidences have not been found against” Pragya Singh Thakur and five others, the NIA said, adding it has submitted in the chargesheet “that the prosecution against them is not maintainable”.

Seven persons were killed in the blast, when they were coming out of prayers during Ramzan on September 29, 2008.

There have been a lot of twists and turns in the probe into the Malegaon blast, which was described as a handiwork of people associated with Hindu right-wing groups.

The case was investigated initially by Joint Commissioner of Mumbai’s ATS Hemant Karkare, who was killed during the 26/11 Mumbai attack. Before the NIA took over the case in 2011, the ATS had booked 16 persons but filed chargesheets on January 20, 2009, and April 21, 2011, against 14 accused in a Mumbai court.

Purohit and Pragya had moved several applications before the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court challenging the chargesheet and applicability of stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case.

Besides Sadhvi , Shiv Narayan Kalsangra, Shyam Bhavarlal Sahu, Praveen Takkalki, Lokesh Sharma and Dhan Singh Choudhury are the other five accused against whom charges have been dropped.

The agency also said during investigation that it has been established that no offence is attracted in this case under MCOCA, in which any statement given before a SP-level officer is admissible as evidence.

“In furtherance of same, the confessional statements recorded under provisions of the MCOCA by ATS Mumbai have not been relied upon by the NIA in submitting the present final report,” the agency said in its chargesheet.

Lt Col Purohit and nine others will now be tried for charges including murder and conspiracy under the provisions of anti-terror law UAPA, IPC, Arms Act and Explosives Substance Act.

Cong targets Modi, Rajnath

The Congress on Thursday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh after the NIA gave clean chit to Pragya.

“This is my accusation on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the Central Cabinet who are trying to save the people belonging to Sangha involved in terror activities by putting pressure on police officers and the NIA,” Congress leader Digvijay Singh said.

“I have been telling this from the very beginning that the people from the RSS and those influenced by its deology are involved in terror activities,” he added.

Stating the chargesheet mentions that the investigation conducted by former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare was flawed, the Congress leader expressed his disappointment over the fact that even martyrs are under suspicion during the rule of the NDA regime.

“The person, who gave his life fighting for the glory of the nation, is now being framed as a person who tried to falsely implicate the accused,” he added.

Singh also said that the Centre wants to protect the Malegaon convicts.

“We also know that you have been in contacts with all who have been involved in the terror attack, but my appeal to the Center is please don't accuse Hemnat Karkare of wrongly implicating the Malegaon convicts,” he added.

Training his guns at the Home Minister, Singh wondered whether this was the reason for extension given to the NIA director.

“This a matter of pity that the National Investigative Agency, which was formed to probe matters of terrorism, is now saving the perpetrators involved in terrorism,” he said.

“This is highly regrettable that Hemant Karkare's deeds in the case is being criticised,” he added.

Pragya was framed: BJP

The BJP today welcomed the NIA decision to drop all charges against Pragya and five others and suggested a probe against those involved in building the case against her in the UPA government, saying she was “framed”.

In an apparent attack on the UPA dispensation, the BJP said there was conspiracy over Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts cases, in which Hindutva groups were prosecuted by investigation agencies, and some politicians worked against the country’s interests.

“I was of the opinion from day one that Pragya and others have just been framed in these cases. All the atrocity a person like Pragya has undergone, I think, had there been any other liberal, law-abiding country, there would have been a counter-investigation against people involved in it.

“There was nothing against her. There was conspiracy over the Malegaon and Samjhauta Express blasts, and anti-national forces were fighting. People associated with politics worked against the country’s interest. I look with respect at the NIA’s decision in favour of Pragya Thakur,” party spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi told the media in the National Capital.

Asked about the dilution of charges against other accused, including Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit, she said she would not give any clean chit to him or speak for or against him as she does no details of the case against him.

Lekhi said she knew Thakur and is limiting her argument to the Hindutva activist.

She brushed aside Congress leader Digvijay Singh’s criticism of the government over the NIA decision, saying he had earlier alleged RSS involvement in the Mumbai attack. — Agencies