2008 Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Colonel Purohit 2008 Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Colonel PurohitA special court Wednesday dropped charges under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against 12 accused, including Pragya Singh Thakur and Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Thakur, Purohit and five other accused will, however, face trial under sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and for murder and criminal conspiracy. While three of the 12 were discharged from the case, two other accused will face trial under the Arms Act only. Two other accused, Rakesh Dhawade and Jagdish Mhatre, will face trial only under The Arms Act. “Moreover, immediate filing of supplementary chargesheet against Dhawade by ATS in Parbhani and Jalna case after his arrest, in this case speaks volumes.

Source: Indian Express December 27, 2017 11:24 UTC