Accused in Malegaon blast deny involvement

Two accused in the September 2008 Malegaon blast case have denied that they were a part of the conspiracy to carry out blast.

Bombay high court is currently hearing appeal filed by state government against trial court's revocation of Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the accused in the case.

The affidavit filed by Rakesh Dhawade, a researcher and antique arms dealer from Pune, in the affidavits filed in the high court stated that he was not connected with the Abhinav Bharat outfit founded by co-accused Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit except that he had received donation from Purohit for his research institute.

Dhawade has stated that there is no evidence against him to show that he formed the crime syndicate, which MCOCA requires.

Another accused, Ajay Rahirkar, who is a trustee of Abhinav Bharat, has stated that the trust's name does not figure in the earlier charge-sheets filed in the Parbhani and Nanded bomb blasts, so it cannot be called "organised crime syndicate" as defined under MCOCA.

Six people died in Malegaon blast.