Malegaon blast case: Court: proof available against Thakur; NIA drops charges against Thakur

Mumbai, Dec 27: The efforts of Anti-Terrorism Squad(ATS) led to arrest of 2008 Malegaon blast main accused controversial Hindu leader Pragya Singh Thakur, after which others involved in the blast were arrested.

ATS of the Maharashtra police arrested Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, Ramesh Upadhyay, who is accused of helping the group prepare bombs, Dhawde, who dealt in antique weapons in Pune, and 11 others October and November 2008 and said they were involved in other blasts too.

Later, the case was shifted to NIA (National Investigation agency), which dropped charges of being members of a terrorist organisation as well as those under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused.

Seven people, Thakur and army officer Purohit, will face trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on terrorism and conspiracy charges, a Mumbai court said on Wednesday.

Special judge SD Tekale refused to accept the federal agency's stand that there was no proof against Thakur.

"There is evidence to suggest that the accused number one (Thakur) had knowledge about involvement of her motorcycle". "Thakur had also expressed dissatisfaction about causing less casualties in the blast. Hence it is difficult to accept submissions on behalf of the NIA and the accused number one that she had no concern with the present crime," the court said.

The special court dropped all charges against three accused, Shiv Narayan Kalsangra, Shyam Sahu and Praveen Takkalki. Rakesh Dhawde and Jagdish Mhatre will face trial under the Arms Act for allegedly giving arms and ammunition training.