Malegaon 2008 blast accused and BJP’s Member of Parliament from Bhopal Pragya Singh Thakur appeared before the Special NIA Court in Mumbai today at around 12:45 pm. She was absent in the previous court hearings citing health reasons. Special NIA Court is currently recording the testimony of all the witnesses in the case. Judge VS Padalkar called Thakur to the witness stand exercising powers under Section 313(1)(a) and asked : “Do you know how many witnesses have been examined by the prosecution? Has your lawyer told you?”
Pragya: No, I do not know. Court: 116 witnesses have been examined and it has been established that a blast took place. I am not asking you who did it. Do you know a blast took place on September 29, 2008? Pragya: No, I do not know. During this questioning, Pragya kept standing even though she was offered a seat. Her supporters had even put a red velvet cloth on the bench meant for accused. However she refused to sit.
Once the hearing was over and judge Padalkar left the courtroom, the newly elected MP raised her voice and said that the chair offered to her was dirty. She said that a proper chair should have been provided and that she had every right to sit comfortably until she is proven guilty. On Monday, the special court had rejected Thakur’s application seeking exemption from appearance before the court this week. She had stated in the application that she needed to complete some formalities regarding her election to Parliament, but the court said her presence is necessary at this stage in the case. Pragya’s advocate Prashant Magoo told the Court she is suffering from high blood pressure and is unable to travel to Mumbai from Bhopal. Court granted the exemption but directed her to appear on Friday or else “face the consequences.”
