Pragya moves court to seek bail

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, prime accused in the September 29 Malegaon blast case, moved the special MCOCA court to seek bail.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, prime accused in the September 29 Malegaon blast case, on Wednesday moved the special MCOCA court to seek bail.

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Thakur, who was arrested on October 23 in 2008, filed a bail application on the ground that as per provisions of MCOCA, the prosecution has to file a progress report before the court, 90 days after the arrest, specifying reasons for further detention of the accused.

"It has been 95 days since Sadhvi's arrest and the special public prosecutor has not submitted a progress report or explained why they need her custody," Thakur's lawyer Ganesh Sovani said.

The bail application further states that Thakur has been falsely implicated in the case and also physically and mentally tortured by officials of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

Special MCOCA judge Y D Shinde will hear Thakur's bail application on January 19.

Meanwhile, the bail application of two other accused in the case - Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Abhinav Bharat treasurer Ajay Rahirkar will be heard by the court on January 20.

All the 11 accused are currently in judicial custody till January 20.

Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian on Wednesday informed the court that police are likely to file the chargesheet by January 20.