Court gives Thakur another month to furnish sureties

Mumbai: In a relief to 2008 Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, the Bombay high court has extended the time to furnish two sureties and Rs 5 lakh by a month. The extension comes after Thakur filed a criminal application that said that on April 25, the high court granted her bail and directed her to furnish the sureties and the amount within a month, but she could not do so and hence approached the court. A division bench of Justice Prakash Naik and Justice Makrand Karnik was hearing the application.

Thakur’s counsel, Prashant Maggu, submitted before the court that surety has already been offered by the applicant and the verification of the surety is in process, therefore, the given time should be extended. While speaking to The Asian Age, he said, “We have paid Rs 5 lakh in the court but due to summer vacation, the process is being delayed. When we submit surety, the police verifies the same, which is a time consuming procedure and the court has accepted the same.” Since the National Investigation Agency (NIA) counsel did not oppose the extension, the court granted the four weeks’ extension.  

In the September 2008 blast opposite Shakil Goods Transport Company, six people lost their lives and hundred people were injured. Maharashtra ATS head, Hemant Karkare and his team had arrested 14 people, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, in this case for playing various roles. Thakur was arrested under the various sections of IPC and MCOCA, UAPA and Explosive Substance Act, but the Supreme Court had dropped MCOCA charges against her.