A Mumbai court on Monday issued bailable warrant against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Pragya Singh Thakur, prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon Blast case, for non-appearance during the ongoing trial in the case.Special judge AK Lahoti passed the order rejecting Thakur's application seeking exemption from appearance on medical grounds.The Court directed her to appear and pay ₹10,000 before March 20 for cancelling the warrant.Six people were killed and over 100 injured on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device placed on a motorbike went off near a mosque at Malegaon.The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) before it was transferred to the National Investigation Agency in 2011.The special court then framed charges against Thakur and other accused under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in October 2018.After producing and examining over 323 witnesses, the prosecution informed the Court that it had completed the recording of evidence of the accused on September 14, 2023.Judge Lahoti specifically assigned to hear the trial then ordered all accused to remain present before court for recording of their statements.He clarified that the accused will have to remain present as and when dates are fixed by the court for conducting the trial.On February 25, the Court had exempted Thakur from appearance for a day after she had claimed ill-health but had asked her to remain present on February 27.The Court had also ordered all accused to remain present in Court on the dates specified till the recording of statements is completed without fail."Thakur to remain present on February 27 and onwards without fail, otherwise, the necessary steps will be taken," the Court had said on February 25.When Thakur failed to comply with this order, the Court finally issued bailable warrant.
TAGS: Mumbai court bailable warrant Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Pragya Singh Thakur
