Malegaon blast case: Court rejects bail pleas of three accused

A special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today rejected the bail pleas of three accused including Lt Col Prasad Purohit, arrested in the September 2008 Malegaon blast case after accepting the prosecution's argument that if released on bail the accused would indulge in unlawful activities.

Purohit and two other accused - Rakesh Dhawde and Ajay Rahirkar - had sought bail stating that they have been falsely implicated and that since the charge sheet has been filed in the case their custody was not required further.

The trio and seven others including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur have been accused by state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) for allegedly carrying out blasts at Malegaon on September 29, 2008 that left six dead and several others injured.

The prosecution had opposed the bail pleas stating that the accused floated a group Abhinav Bharat and indulged in criminal conspiracy and their main object was to threaten the unity and integrity of the nation.

"The accused wanted to overpower the Indian government and create a Hindu Rashtra for which they had indulged in terror activities. If they are released on bail they would continue such unlawful acts," special public prosecutor Rohini Salian argued.

The prosecutor further said how the accused had conspired to do away with certain members of RSS as they were against the accused's ideology.

"According to the accused, the so called Hindu political parties have betrayed the cause of Hindutva by using it as a political tool," Salian said.

All the eleven accused have been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), MCOCA, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Arms Act, Explosives Act and Explosive Substances Act.

The court is expected to hear Sadhvi's bail plea on January 10. Sadhvi had sought to be released on bail on medical grounds.