Pragya served bailable warrant for missing hearing in 2008 Malegaon terror case

BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur, who is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case later labelled as ‘Hindu terror,’ by the opposition has been served a bailable warrant by a Mumbai court for her absence from proceedings.

Special Judge AK Lahoti, presiding over the case, underscored the necessity of the accused’s presence as final arguments are ongoing, issuing a Rs 10,000 bailable warrant that requires Thakur to attend the proceedings by November 13 or face further legal action.

The Malegaon blast, a tragic incident that took place on September 29, 2008, led to six fatalities and injured 100 others when an explosive device attached to a two-wheeler detonated near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra. Hindutva group Abhinav Bharat has been implicated in orchestrating the attack, with Thakur among the main suspects.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Thakur’s counsel sought her exemption from court appearances due to health concerns, presenting a medical certificate to support the claim.

However, the judge dismissed the request, citing insufficient documentation and Thakur’s repeated absence from the trial, with her last attendance recorded on June 4. Judge Lahoti noted that Thakur had previously filed exemption applications on similar health grounds, which were taken into consideration multiple times.

The Malegaon blast case involves six other accused individuals, including Lieutenant Colonel Shrikant Purohit, Major Ramesh Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, and Sudhakar Chaturvedi. These defendants face charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, which include charges of murder and conspiracy.

With the November 13 return date, Thakur is expected to comply with the court's directive, which requires her to cancel the warrant by appearing before the judge. The trial’s progression remains closely watched as it approaches a decisive stage with final arguments.