Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, October 30

A special court on Tuesday framed charges in the 2008 Malegaon blast case against former Military Intelligence officer Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and five others for terror activities, criminal conspiracy and murder, among others.Judge Vinod Padalkar, presiding over the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court, said the Abhinav Bharat organisation with which the accused were associated was formed with the objective of carrying out terror attacks. He said a bomb containing RDX was planted on a motorcycle that left six dead and 101 injured.

All the accused have been charged under various sections of the IPC, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Indian Explosives Substance Act. Appearing before the court, the accused said they did not plead guilty.Sadhvi Pragya said the NIA had first given her a clean chit but later framed charges against her. “I am not a member of Abhinav Bharat. I have said in the past also that I am in no way connected with this organisation. This is a kanoon ka khel happening here,” she said, adding that the terror allegations were being levelled against her at the behest of the Congress.

Lt Col Purohit’s lawyers pleaded for deferment of framing of charges as they were set to appeal in the apex court against Bombay High Court’s order refusing to stay the framing of charges.