Malegaon probe: ‘I’m ready to be questioned by ATS’

A Hindu religious leader on Wednesday said he had given "deeksha" (process of conversion into an ascetic) to Pragya Singh.

A Hindu religious leader on Wednesday said he had given “deeksha” (process of conversion into an ascetic) to Pragya Singh Thakur, arrested in connection with Malegaon blast, and is ready to be questioned by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad if it wanted to check any information from him about her.

Swami Avdheshanand Giri, Mahamandleshwar of Joona Akhara, told reporters here that he had given ‘deeksha’ to Pragya Singh Thakur at the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad a few years ago.

He said thousands of men and women convert into sadhus and sadhvis on the occasion of Kumbh every time and in the routine processes Pragya was also given ‘deeksha’.

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The swami said Thakur was accompanied by her family members when she had gone to Allahabad to take ‘deeksha.’ Replying a question, he said that after the ‘deeksha’ he had met her once or twice in Madhya Pradesh for a few minutes.

He said it was not appropriate to call Thakur a terrorist before the charges were proved against her.

He said he had faith in the judiciary whose verdict should be acceptable to every one.

Ambala buzzed with rumour that a team of ATS was coming to the ashram of Avdheshanand Giri in Ambala cantonment today to verify some information from him about Pragya Singh Thakur.

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A number of electronics and print media representatives gathered at the ashram this morning but no team of ATS reached there till evening.

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