Mumbai:
A special court in Mumbai on Saturday granted BJP MP Pragya Thakur's plea seeking exemption from personal appearance in the Malegaon case on medical grounds, but said a “necessary order” will be issued if she is not produced before the court by April 25 appears.
Six people were killed and more than a hundred were injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, about 200 kilometers away, on September 29, 2008.
On April 8, special NIA judge AK Lahoti, based on a compliance report filed by the National Investigation Agency on Thakur's medical condition, granted her exemption from personal appearance but had asked the Bhopal Lok Sabha MP to attend “without fail” to remain in court in April. 20.
However, as the trial began on Saturday, Thakur filed for exemption from personal appearance through her lawyer, claiming that she was suffering from a critical medical condition. The plea stated that she hoped to remain in court on April 25.
However, the NIA opposed her plea saying that the medical certificate (filed by Thakur) did not mention that she was not in a position to shift or travel from Bhopal to Mumbai.
The court, after hearing both sides, said her medical certificate shows that she requires therapeutic intervention for about a week.
“Considering the medical certificate and the submission of the lawyer, I am of the opinion that she deserves to be admitted as a last chance,” the court said and then directed her to remain present in court on or before April 25, failing which 'will follow the necessary order'. be passed on.”
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