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2008 Malegaon blast: Timeline of case involving right wing Hindu groups
Controversial Hindu leader Pragya Singh Thakur, Indian Army officer Shrikant Prasad Purohit are among people under trial for Malegaon blast.
Controversial Hindu leader Pragya Singh Thakur and Indian Army officer Shrikant Prasad Purohit will be tried under certain sections of the federal anti-terror law for the 2008 Malegaon blast that killed six people, said a Mumbai court on Wednesday.
The blasts are blamed on right wing Hindu groups who allegedly wanted to hurt Malegaon’s Muslim residents. Here is a brief timeline of the case.
2008
September 29: A bomb planted on a motorcycle goes off in Malegaon town of Maharashtra, killing six people and injuring 101
October 24: The police arrest three people — Pragya Singh Thakur, Shiv Narayan Gopal Singh Kalsanghra and Shyam Bhawarlal Sahu
November 4: Maharashtra Police’s anti-terrorism squad (ATS ) arrests Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, a serving Army officer
2009
January 30: ATS files a final charge sheet against 11 accused
July 31: The special court says MCOCA charges are not applicable and the case be tried by a regular Nasik court
2010
July 7: The Bombay high court reverses the order and upholds charges under provisions of MCOCA
August: Purohit and Thakur challenge the HC order
2011
March 1: While the case is pending before the Apex court, the ATS files a supplementary charge sheet
April 1: Investigation is transferred to the NIA by the government
April 13: The NIA files a fresh case in the case and begin investigation
2012
February: NIA make their first arrest and obtain custody of Lokesh Sharma, who was already in judicial custody in connection with the Samjhauta train bombing case
June 05: Sharma granted bail as the agency failed to file a charge sheet in time
December 17: NIA arrest Dhan Singh
2013
May 22: Singh granted bail as the agency could not file the charge sheet in time
2015
April 15: Apex court remands the case back to the lower court to freshly consider the applicability of MCOCA in view of further investigation
June: Purohit moves a fresh bail plea along with the other accused
October 12: The court rejects the bail application of four accused, but says MCOCA is applicable
2016
February 15: NIA informs the court they have sought opinion of the Attorney General about the applicability of MCOCA in the case
March: Prosecution opens the case and begins arguments on the applicability of the charge sheet against the accused
2017
April: Bombay High Court grants bail to Thakur, but rejects Purohit’s plea
August: Purohit granted bail by Supreme Court
December: Mumbai court drops charges under Maharashtra’s tough organised crime law, but says Thakur, Purohit and others will be charged under certain sections of the federal anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the Indian Penal Code.
