The 2008 Malegaon blast could have been carried out by the banned Students' Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the lawyer of prime accused and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Pragya Thakur argued before a special court in Mumbai on Thursday, reported news agency PTI.

Local people prevented police from reaching the site immediately after the blast and it could have been done to shield the accused, said Thakur's lawyer, advocate JP Mishra.