2008 Malegaon blast accused gets bail

A special NIA Court today granted bail to Lokesh Sharma, arrested in 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, as the investigating agency failed to file charge sheet within the stipulated 90-day period.

A special NIA court on Tuesday granted bail to Lokesh Sharma, arrested in 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, as the investigating agency failed to file charge sheet within the stipulated 90-day period.

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Designated judge of the special NIA court YD Shinde directed the accused to execute a PR bond of Rs 25,000 while granting him bail.

NIA had taken Lokesh's custody early this year from Panchkula court, where he was in judicial custody in connection with the Samjhauta train bombing case. He was later produced before a special MCOCA court in Mumbai on February 27 and remanded to NIA custody.

The agency had sought Lokesh's custody to question him in connection with the September 29, 2008 Malegaon blast, in which six people were killed.

Sharma, a close associate of Sunil Joshi (the suspected 'mastermind' behind the blasts and who was later murdered), had allegedly also planted a bomb on the Samjhauta Express.