A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on November 13 issued a fresh bailable warrant for Pragya Singh Thakur, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politician and one of the key accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Thakur, who faces charges in the blast that killed six people and injured over 100, failed to appear before the court for the final arguments, prompting the court to issue the warrant.
Special Sessions Judge Lahoti issued a ₹10,000 bailable warrant after Thakur did not comply with a previous court order to appear by November 13. The court had earlier directed her to appear in person after she had missed hearings in the past, despite the case being in its final stages. Thakur’s absence has drawn attention, especially since the case has been at the final argument stage since July 2024.
In the earlier bailable warrant issued on November 5, the court noted that Thakur had been absent from the proceedings since June 4, 2024, and had not responded to the court’s orders. Thakur had requested exemption on the grounds of undergoing ayurvedic treatment for detoxification, which the court rejected, citing that it was not a valid reason for missing hearings.
This is not the first time Thakur has cited health concerns to seek exemptions from court appearances. In March 2024, a similar bailable warrant was issued, but it was stayed after Thakur attended the court session.
The Malegaon blast occurred on September 29, 2008, when a bomb attached to a motorcycle exploded near a mosque in Malegaon, located about 200 kilometers from Mumbai. The blast left six people dead and more than 100 others injured. Thakur has been identified as the owner of the motorcycle used in the attack.
The NIA took over the investigation in 2011, and after an extensive probe, filed charges against eleven suspects, including Thakur, retired major Ramesh Upadhyay, and serving army officer Lt Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit. The prosecution has concluded presenting evidence, having examined 323 witnesses. The case has now entered its final stages, with the next hearing scheduled for December 2, 2024.
The continued absence of Thakur from the court and her repeated requests for exemptions raise concerns, especially as the trial moves closer to its conclusion. The court will now wait for a report on the execution of the fresh bailable warrant before proceeding further.
Sources By Agencies
