The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit, who has been languishing in jail for almost nine years for his alleged role in 2008 Malegaon blast case, observing there were contradictions in the charge sheets filed by different investigating agencies. The top court also said it cannot deny the relief to him merely because "sentiments of community was against him". Six people were killed in a bomb blast on September 29, 2008, at Malegaon, in Maharashtra.

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 Senior lawyer, Harish Salve, appeared for Purohit in this case. 

Q. Now that Colonel Purohit has been granted bail, many are speculating if the case against him was weak?

A. After the NIA chargesheet, the court has taken cognizance of three or four things. The NIA itself is criticising the chargesheet and it is riddled with contradictions. The withdrawal of all the witnesses who now claim that they had been pressurised and finally the testimony of two army officers, from which a conclusion was drawn, that the RDX itself was planted is a serious matter. The NIA has filed a supplementary chargesheet, That’s where I read from. Q: Do you think there will be any political ramifications, because a lot of people are glorifying him as a nationalist (perhaps), how do you see that? A: Political ramifications, don't know, don't care (chuckles!!) Q: Col Purohit has been in jail for 9 years, what exactly lead to the delay of his bail? A: Sadhvi Pragya got bail plea, against her they decided not to file a chargesheet. Against him they have said that we will be pressing charges so his bail had to be considered. Q4: What is the way forward for Col Purohit from here on? What legal course of action have you planned on his case now? A: The next step is framing of charges. Based on the new chargesheet he will have to show that he's going to go about it and any way there's no case made against him. And first thing he should do is go home and spend time with his family.