HC to decide today on Sadhvi, Purohit pleas

After over two months, Bombay High Court will pronounce its verdict in response to the appeals moved by Sadhvi Pragya and Lt. Colonel SP Purohit, prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

A Division Bench presided over by Justice Ranjit More and Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi has heard the appeals moved by Sadhvi and Purohit. The duo have separately challenged the orders of a special National Investigations Agency (NIA) court.

Sadhvi had challenged the orders of the special court that refused to grant her bail and discharge her from the case. She had approached the special court seeking discharge, after getting a “clean chit” from the NIA, However, the special court turned down her plea. The special court had held that it cannot neglect the incriminating material adduced by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS).

It may be recalled the NIA, that is investigating the case since 2011, had granted a “clean chit” to Sadhvi in its charge-sheet filed in May, last year. The agency that had been “vehemently” opposing Sadhvi’s bail pleas since 2011, took a “u-turn” in its charge-sheet claiming that it had “no material” to prosecute the right wing terrorist.

Unlike Sadhvi, the NIA did not allow Purohit to go “scotfree” and rather chargesheeted him under several stringent acts including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act. After being charged by NIA, Purohit had applied for bail contending that the trial in the case is yet to start.

The special court, however, had refused to grant him bail following which he too petitioned the HC.