2008 Malegaon blasts: ATS to defend probe, challenge NIA charges

According to sources, the ATS is set to file an application in court, defending its probe as well as the role of its officers in the probe.

Nearly two months after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) termed the probe conducted by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case as “dubious”, the state counter-terrorism agency has decided to challenge the allegations levelled by the central agency.

According to sources, the ATS is set to file an application in court, defending its probe as well as the role of its officers in the probe. The NIA, which filed a supplementary chargesheet in the case in May, had said there was no evidence against Sadhvi Pragya Singh, among others, and pointed towards alleged misconduct by the ATS in connection with the disappearance of a witness. The NIA also alleged that it appeared an ATS man had planted explosives on a premises being searched.

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Sources in the ATS told The Indian Express they had taken legal advice and would soon tell the court they stood by their investigation in the case. The ATS had filed its chargesheet in 2008. Subsequently, the probe was handed over to the NIA.

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“We have decided to file an affidavit in court stating that we stand by our investigations and that the charges against our officers are false. We had enough evidence against Sadhvi and other accused, and we will stand by the conduct of our officials and their probe as we find them to have dispensed their duties honestly,” said a senior ATS officer.

The NIA, in its chargesheet, had mentioned that they could not gather any evidence against Sadhvi, suggesting her direct involvement both in the conspiracy as well as execution of the blasts. It had stated that though the LML Freedom bike on which the bomb was planted belonged to Sadhvi, it was used by Ramsingh Kalsangra for some time, for which they had statements of three witnesses.

“While the NIA gave a clean chit to three of the accused arrested by us, it chargesheeted 10 accused who we have arrested. How can it be that the evidence against some accused is appreciated and the others are questioned? Based on a few witness statements which aren’t even backed with any other circumstantial evidence, key accused have been given clean chit,” a senior official told The Indian Express. “This will bring these facts to the notice of the court,” added the senior official.

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