Malegaon blast accused BJP MP Pragya Thakur in need of rest: NIA report

On April 3, the court had said that the presence of Thakur who is an accused in the case, was necessary in order to record her statement and due to her absence, the court proceeding was hampered. It had then given directions to the NIA to verify her health condition and submit a report.

While over 400 witnesses were cited in the chargesheets filed by the investigating agencies, 21 died during the trial’s duration, while some were dropped from being examined by the prosecution.

“Considering the aforesaid report, it can be said that accused number 1 (Thakur) is ill and the doctor has advised her to take bed rest. If any information pertaining to health of accused number 1 is received by NIA, they should immediately report/inform the court,” special judge A K Lahoti said in the order on Monday.

The court is currently recording the statements of the accused under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code. On September 29, 2008, a blast in Malegaon, a town near Nashik, nearly 270 km from Mumbai, six persons were killed and over 100 were injured. The special court is presiding over the trial against seven accused including Thakur.