SC judge recuses from hearing PIL on Malegaon blast probe

New Delhi: The hearing on the PIL seeking to bring back Rohini Salian as special prosecutor to lead the CBI's case in Malegaon bomb blast case and seeking probe into allegations that she was pressurised to go slow in the case was put off as Justice Uday Umesh Lalit recused himself from hearing the matter.

As the matter was called for hearing before the bench of Justice Fakkir Mohamed Ibrahim Kalifulla and Justice Lalit, the latter recused himself from hearing the matter saying that he had appeared for some of the accused earlier as a lawyer before he was elevated as a judge.

Former bureaucrat-turned-social activist Harsh Mander has moved the apex court seeking that Salian who had stepped down as special prosecutor in Malegaon case involving right wing Hindu groups be brought back to lead the Central Bureau of Investigation's case.

He has also sought probe into the allegations that Salian was asked by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to go slow in the case, an allegation denied by the agency.

Mander, in his PIL, referring to an interview by Salian wherein she had alleged that she was pressured by the NIA to go soft in the Malegaon case, has sought the court's intervention for a fair trial.

The PIL has alleged that NIA was acting under the instructions of its political masters.

Malegaon in 2008 was rocked by blasts which claimed six lives and left more than 100 injured.