Pragya Thakur's absence hampering blast trial, says court

A special court on Wednesday observed that BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakurs absence in the September 2008 Malegaon blast case trial was hampering the proceedings and asked the NIA to submit a report on her healthThe court passed the order after the Member of Parliament from Bhopal a prime accused in the case sought another exemption from appearance citing health problemsA K Lahoti special judge for National Investigation Agency cases asked the central agency to verify her health condition and submit a report by April 8The court had on March 11 issued a bailable warrant against the Bhopal MP for failing to attend the proceedings despite being specifically directedThe warrant was cancelled on March 22 after Thakur appeared before the court But she failed to appear after thatWhile granting her exemption on March 28 the court had directed Thakur to appear on April 3 warning that a nonbailable warrant would be issued against her otherwiseOn Wednesday her lawyer again sought exemption claiming that the nature of her ailments was severe Her physical condition was beyond her control and she was seeking treatment at her home in Bhopal on doctors advice the application saidA doctor after examining her advised her bed rest and a certificate has been provided with the application it saidThe NIA however told the court that as Thakur was not in Mumbai it could not verify her claimsThe directions which were given from time to time are well within the knowledge of advocates appearing on behalf of Thakur and the delay is caused due to absence of the accused Hence considering the aforesaid aspects a necessary order be passed the NIA submittedThe court noted that statement of the accused was being recorded under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure where an accused can explain in person any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him or herShe has been absent since long except on 22032024 On 22032024 accused no 1 Thakur appeared before the court and considering her physical and medical condition she was allowed to leave the court it saidThe accuseds presence was necessary to record her statement and her absence was hampering the court proceedings the judge addedThe certificate produced by her lawyer states that Thakur is suffering from cervicalspondylitis and migraine but prescription treatment papers and test papers have not been submitted and therefore verification of the health condition is required the court saidNIA Mumbai can make correspondence with their unit at Bhopal and verify the health condition and submit the report accordingly on or before April 8 the order said while exempting Thakur from appearance for the daySix people were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon a communally sensitive town about 200 km from Mumbai in north Maharashtra on September 29 2008The case was initially probed by the Anti Terrorism Squad ATS of Maharashtra police before it was transferred to the NIAThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever