Read Time: 03 minutes

Synopsis

A Special MP/MLA Court in Mumbai today issued a bailable warrant against BJP MP Pragya Thakur after she failed to appear before the court in the 2008 Malegaon Blast Case.

Special Judge AK Lahoti issued a bailable warrant of Rs. 10,000 against the BJP MP after rejecting her application seeking exemption from appearance on medical grounds.

The Special Judge directed Thakur to appear before the court on March 20, 2024. In the 2008 Malegaon Blast case, six individuals lost their lives, and approximately 100 others sustained injuries.

The case was initially investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad and later transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The NIA presented 323 witnesses during the trial, but 34 of them turned hostile. Following the recording of the victims' testimonies, the court summoned Pragya Thakur and six other accused individuals to record their statements under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

During one of the earlier hearings, the BJP MP became emotional while recording her statement before the court.

The BJP MP had also sought an exemption earlier on medical grounds on February 25, which was allowed by the court.

The special judge, in its earlier order, had recorded that the court had accommodated the BJP MP and other accused in the case, granting exemptions due to ill health.

The court had said that from February 27 onwards, all the accused would be required to appear in court to record their statements in the case, and in case of ill health, they could get medication in Mumbai itself.