2008 Malegaon blast: Accused asks court to keep records sealed

Colonel Prasad Purohit said the Army submitted the documents only after confirming that they would remain sealed and would not be shared with anyone else

2008 Malegaon blast accused lieutenant colonel Prasad Purohit approached the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court on Tuesday, asking it not forward any of the documents submitted by the Indian Army to the court of inquiry (the tribunal investigating the matter).

Seven people were killed in a blast at Malegaon, a predominantly Muslim town, on September 29, 2008. (REUTERS)

Purohit said the Army submitted the documents only after confirming that they would remain sealed and would not be shared with anyone else. He said the documents should hence, not be sent to the Bombay high court.

Read: Malegaon blast: High court asks NIA to file additional affidavit against Lt Col Purohit’s bail plea

Special public prosecutor Avinash Rasal confirmed the development. He said Purohit filed the application after the Bombay high court called for the entire record of the proceedings from the special MCOCA court hearing the blast case. The high court was hearing a bail application filed by Purohit after it was rejected by the special court.

Booked for conspiring to carry out several attacks and distributing military ammunition to execute the conspiracy, Purohit had alleged he was on a secret mission to unearth information on terrorist activities in India. After his arrest, he also faced a court of inquiry.

To prove his case, Purohit had written to the ministry of defence and to the Army, asking them provide all the documents and statements of the officers recorded and produced before the court of inquiry. The authorities submitted the documents on the condition that they would be viewed only by the court.

Seven people were killed in a blast at Malegaon, a predominantly Muslim town, on September 29, 2008.