Mumbai, June 3
Newly-elected Bhopal MP Pragya Singh Thakur on Monday failed to get exemption from appearance in a special court this week in the 2008 Malegaon blast case in which she is an accused.
Special NIA Judge VS Padalkar rejected Thakur’s application for exemption in which she stated that she has to complete formalities relating to Parliament, saying her presence is necessary at this stage in the case.
The court directed Thakur to appear before it this week.
It said initially exemption from appearance was granted. “However, now material witnesses are being called by the prosecution to adduce their evidence to prove their case against the accused persons. Hence, the presence of accused persons is certainly necessary,” the court said.
It added that the apex court has, in several orders in the past, emphasised the need for lower courts to decide matters where political leaders are involved expeditiously. In May this year, the court, which is conducting a trial against seven accused in the case, directed all of them to appear before it at least once a week. It then said exemption would be granted if cogent reasons were submitted. — PTI
from The Tribune http://bit.ly/313jkkR
via Today’s News Headlines
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