Blasts convict gets bail in VHP conspiracy case

In a reprieve for 2002-2003 Mulund blasts convict, Saquib Nachan, a sessions court in Thane has granted him bail, in a case registered against him for attempt on the life of a VHP member and conspiring to kill another VHP activist in Bhiwandi. The bail was granted on grounds that the chargesheet against Nachan was not filed within the stipulated period of 90 days.

Nachan has been convicted in the Mulund blasts case and his bail in that case is also pending before the high court which is why he cannot come out of jail till he gets bail in the blasts case too.

In August 2014, the high court had granted bail to Nachan, raising serious doubts about his involvement in the VHP crime. However, his bail was later cancelled on technical grounds after which Nachan once again approached the trial court in Thane, seeking bail on the grounds that the prosecution had not filed a chargesheet against him in the stipulated 90 days.

While deciding this bail application on October 21, Sessions Judge A.S. Bhaisare observed that the trial court had refused to grant additional time to the investigating agency to file the chargesheet however on request of the prosecution, the high court stayed the trial court order and in the meantime, police filed the charge sheet. Judge Bhaisare said that Nachan had later challenged the HC order in the Supreme Court which had set aside the HC order with direction that if bail plea was filed, it should be decided on its own merits. The judge observed that the high court never granted extension to file chargesheet and as the chargesheet was not filed in 90 days, granted bail to Nachan on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh.