Malegaon blast case: NIA court rejects Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's exemption application
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is one of the accused in Malegaon blast case, which left six people dead and more than 100 injured on September 29, 2008.
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Vidya
Mumbai
June 4, 2019UPDATED: June 4, 2019 07:32 IST
BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur was seeking an exemption to appear before the court in the ongoing trial between June 3 and 7. (File Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
A special NIA court on Monday urged terror accused Pragya Singh Thakur and others to appear before it
BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is one of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case
So far in the Malegaon 2008 trial, over 115 witnesses have deposed in the court
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on Monday rejected an exemption application filed by newly-elected Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.
Sadhvi Pragya, through her lawyers, was seeking an exemption to appear before the court in the ongoing trial between June 3 and 7.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is one of the accused in the Malegaon blast case, which left six people dead and more than 100 injured on September 29, 2008.
Advocate J P Thakur filed the application on behalf of Pragya Singh Thakur seeking exemption for the entire week.
The BJP MP had pointed out that she had to complete some of Parliament-related procedures such as getting enrolled and collecting her identity card etc.
However, the court cited a Supreme Court ruling and directed the blast accused to be present for the hearing this week.
Earlier on May 17 the special court had ordered Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and other accused to be present at least once.
The court was on vacation after that and resumed the proceedings only now.
While the three other accused in the blasts case -- Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar and Lt Col Prasad Purohit -- were present in the court to mark their attendance during the trial today.
But Pragya Singh Thakur and another accused Sudhakar Chaturvedi and others did not appear before the court.
These directions to attend court is given so that the accused are aware of the evidence submitted in the court and also so that the accused themselves can put forth their say.
Judge VS Padalkar presiding over the court proceedings further said, "Now the accused no.1 (Thakur) being a Member of Parliament has stated in her application that she is a political leader, which is why the matter has been expedited. In case of failure to obey this direction, necessary legal order will be passed."
So far in the Malegaon 2008 trial, over 115 witnesses have deposed in the court.
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's legal team had admitted these witnesses and did not challenge them.
However, the court said, material witnesses are being called by the prosecution to cite their evidence to prove their case against the accused persons. Hence, the presence of accused persons is certainly necessary".
Pragya Singh Thakur is likely to come to Mumbai for hearing on June 6 or 7.
Arrested in 2008, Bhopal MP was given a clean chit by the NIA, but the trial court refused to discharge her from the case.
Pragya Singh Thakur and others are being tried under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. She was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in 2017.
Cow urine cured my breast cancer: Sadhvi Pragya
Sadhvi Pragya enumerated the various health benefits of the cow and cow products. The biggest health benefit according to her is that consuming cow urine helped her cure her cancer.
ADVERTISEMENT
India Today Web Desk
New Delhi
April 22, 2019UPDATED: April 23, 2019 08:59 IST
Sadhvi Pragya on cows
Sadhvi Pragya claimed that rubbing a cow in a certain way can help one control their blood pressure. (Photo: Twitter/rahulkanwal)
HIGHLIGHTS
Sadhvi Pragya said rubbing a cow from back to neck can help maintain BP
She said she is living example of effectiveness of drinking cow urine
She filed her nomination papers from Bhopal on Monday
"A mixture of gau mutr (cow urine) and other cow products cured my cancer," said BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency Sadhvi Pragya. She was speaking to India Today TV as she filed her nomination from the seat in Madhya Pradesh.
When asked about the current politics around cows in India, she said it was painful to see how cows are treated in many places. "Godhan amrit hai (owning cattle is like consuming divine nectar)," she told India Today TV.
Sadhvi Pragya also enumerated the various health benefits of the cow and cow products. The biggest health benefit according to her is that consuming cow urine helped her cure her cancer. The BJP candidate from Bhopal, who is also an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, is a breast cancer survivor. "I was a patient of cancer and I cured myself by consuming gau mutr (cow urine) and panchgavya mixed ayurvedic herbs," she said.
Panchagavya is a mixture used in traditional Hindu rituals that is prepared by mixing five cow products. The three direct constituents of the mixture are cow dung, urine, and milk; the two derived products are curd and ghee. These are mixed in proper ratio and then allowed to ferment.
Sadhvi Pragya called the cure scientific, saying, "I am a living example of its effectiveness."
She also claimed that rubbing a cow in a certain way can help one control their blood pressure. "If you rub gau mata from the back towards the neck she will be pleased. If you do it every day, your BP will stay in control," she said as she fed cows in a cattle shelter.
Explaining the cure in detail, Sadhvi Pragya said, "If you rub the cow from back to the neck, you will experience joy and the cow will also experience joy but if you rub her from neck to back the animal will feel uneasy. If you rub from back to front, your BP will be maintained. This is Amrit (divine nectar). This is scientific. A gaushala (cow shelter) is the best place for Tapasya (penance)."
Sadhvi Pragya filed her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from Bhopal on Monday amid chanting of mantras. The BJP candidate, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, currently out on bail, filed her nomination based on what she claimed was an "auspicious time" after arriving at the collectorate here with 11 priests who chanted mantras.
The 48-year-old right-wing activist said she would file her papers "formally" on Tuesday.
She said she chose the time to file her nomination on Monday based on "choghadiya", a Hindu Vedic calendar.
Sadhvi Pragya, making her electoral debut, is pitted against senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijay Singh. Bhopal, a BJP bastion since 1989, will vote on May 12.
EC notice aside, Sadhvi Pragya targets Hemant Karkare again
In the middle of her Lok Sabha campaign in Bhopal, Sadhvi Pragya accused Ashoka Chakra recipient Hemant Kakare of torturing her in custody.
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Rahul Kanwal
Rahul Kanwal
Bhopal
April 22, 2019UPDATED: April 22, 2019 23:53 IST
Sadhvi Pragya on Hemant Karkare
In her interview to India Today TV, Sadhvi Pragya alleged she was beaten up in Hemant Karkare's custody. (Photo: Twitter/rahulkanwal)
HIGHLIGHTS
Sadhvi Pragya named Hemant Karkare as her tormentor when she was in custody
She said Hemant Karkare had falsely implicated her in Malegaon blast case
She said the Lok Sabha elections will prove there's nothing like Hindu terror
Undeterred by the Election Commission's notice for her controversial remarks on slain IPS officer Hemant Karkare, BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur continues her tirade against the 26/11 hero.
In the middle of her campaign in Bhopal, she accused the Ashoka Chakra recipient of torturing her in custody.
"That phase, that pain is unimaginable. The kind of pain I underwent cannot be described," she told India Today TV. "You cannot imagine how a saffron-clad sanyasi who had dedicated her life to the nation was subjected to abuse. My sanyasi appearance was reviled," Sadhvi Pragya alleged, referring to her police interrogation in connection with her suspected role in the 2008 Malegaon blast.
She named Hemant Karkare when probed who tormented her during questioning.
"Hemant Karkare. That was when I was held in illegal confinement... I cannot express in words the torture, the filthy expletives I suffered while I was in police custody for eleven days," she charged.
On Saturday, election authorities sought an explanation from the BJP's Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya for her accusations against Hemant Karkare, who was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
"Hemant Karkare falsely implicated me (in Malegaon blasts) and treated me very badly. I told him your entire dynasty will be erased. He died of his karma," she told party workers last week, sparking widespread criticism.
In her interview to India Today TV, the Sadhvi alleged she was beaten up in Karkare's custody.
"I was asked no question but was beaten up instead," she alleged.
HITTING RIVALS OVER HINDUTVA PLANK
The Sadhvi reiterated her accusations that she was a victim of "conspiracy". "The UPA government hatched a conspiracy and got me arrested in 2008. They tried to frame me in what they called saffron or Hindu terror."
Sadhvi Thakur sought to portray her election bid as an attempt to prove that saffron terror, as alleged by her opponents, does not exist in Indian tradition.
"I am not here to polarise. This election will, in fact, establish that there's nothing like saffron or Hindu terror," she insisted.
The Sadhvi described her rival from Bhopal, Digvijaya Singh, as the real "author" of her alleged distress, charges the Congress leader rebutted.
"The man who authored my torture is standing as a candidate from here. He's the man behind the mentality that unleashed gross injustice on people like us, imprisoned the nation-loving Hindus and the saffron-clad sanyasis like me," she alleged.
On his part, Digvijay Singh denied her accusations.
"I don't know why she says like this. No case was registered against her during my government," the Congress leader told India Today TV in a separate interview. He insisted that the Sadhvi had been arrested by the Madhya Pradesh police earlier under the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.
"She should be unhappy with Shivraj Singh. He arrested her twice and put her behind the bars," Singh remarked.
But the Sadhvi sounded unforgiving. She attacked the Congress candidate over the Hindutva plank.
"If he (Singh) was a Hindu, he couldn't have denigrated saffron or the Hindus as terrorists. He had referred to Hindu terrorism," she claimed.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is one of the accused in Malegaon blast case, which left six people dead and more than 100 injured on September 29, 2008.
ADVERTISEMENT
Vidya
Mumbai
June 4, 2019UPDATED: June 4, 2019 07:32 IST
BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur was seeking an exemption to appear before the court in the ongoing trial between June 3 and 7. (File Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
A special NIA court on Monday urged terror accused Pragya Singh Thakur and others to appear before it
BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is one of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case
So far in the Malegaon 2008 trial, over 115 witnesses have deposed in the court
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on Monday rejected an exemption application filed by newly-elected Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.
Sadhvi Pragya, through her lawyers, was seeking an exemption to appear before the court in the ongoing trial between June 3 and 7.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is one of the accused in the Malegaon blast case, which left six people dead and more than 100 injured on September 29, 2008.
Advocate J P Thakur filed the application on behalf of Pragya Singh Thakur seeking exemption for the entire week.
The BJP MP had pointed out that she had to complete some of Parliament-related procedures such as getting enrolled and collecting her identity card etc.
However, the court cited a Supreme Court ruling and directed the blast accused to be present for the hearing this week.
Earlier on May 17 the special court had ordered Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and other accused to be present at least once.
The court was on vacation after that and resumed the proceedings only now.
While the three other accused in the blasts case -- Sameer Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar and Lt Col Prasad Purohit -- were present in the court to mark their attendance during the trial today.
But Pragya Singh Thakur and another accused Sudhakar Chaturvedi and others did not appear before the court.
These directions to attend court is given so that the accused are aware of the evidence submitted in the court and also so that the accused themselves can put forth their say.
Judge VS Padalkar presiding over the court proceedings further said, "Now the accused no.1 (Thakur) being a Member of Parliament has stated in her application that she is a political leader, which is why the matter has been expedited. In case of failure to obey this direction, necessary legal order will be passed."
So far in the Malegaon 2008 trial, over 115 witnesses have deposed in the court.
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur's legal team had admitted these witnesses and did not challenge them.
However, the court said, material witnesses are being called by the prosecution to cite their evidence to prove their case against the accused persons. Hence, the presence of accused persons is certainly necessary".
Pragya Singh Thakur is likely to come to Mumbai for hearing on June 6 or 7.
Arrested in 2008, Bhopal MP was given a clean chit by the NIA, but the trial court refused to discharge her from the case.
Pragya Singh Thakur and others are being tried under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. She was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in 2017.
Cow urine cured my breast cancer: Sadhvi Pragya
Sadhvi Pragya enumerated the various health benefits of the cow and cow products. The biggest health benefit according to her is that consuming cow urine helped her cure her cancer.
ADVERTISEMENT
India Today Web Desk
New Delhi
April 22, 2019UPDATED: April 23, 2019 08:59 IST
Sadhvi Pragya on cows
Sadhvi Pragya claimed that rubbing a cow in a certain way can help one control their blood pressure. (Photo: Twitter/rahulkanwal)
HIGHLIGHTS
Sadhvi Pragya said rubbing a cow from back to neck can help maintain BP
She said she is living example of effectiveness of drinking cow urine
She filed her nomination papers from Bhopal on Monday
"A mixture of gau mutr (cow urine) and other cow products cured my cancer," said BJP candidate from Bhopal Lok Sabha constituency Sadhvi Pragya. She was speaking to India Today TV as she filed her nomination from the seat in Madhya Pradesh.
When asked about the current politics around cows in India, she said it was painful to see how cows are treated in many places. "Godhan amrit hai (owning cattle is like consuming divine nectar)," she told India Today TV.
Sadhvi Pragya also enumerated the various health benefits of the cow and cow products. The biggest health benefit according to her is that consuming cow urine helped her cure her cancer. The BJP candidate from Bhopal, who is also an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, is a breast cancer survivor. "I was a patient of cancer and I cured myself by consuming gau mutr (cow urine) and panchgavya mixed ayurvedic herbs," she said.
Panchagavya is a mixture used in traditional Hindu rituals that is prepared by mixing five cow products. The three direct constituents of the mixture are cow dung, urine, and milk; the two derived products are curd and ghee. These are mixed in proper ratio and then allowed to ferment.
Sadhvi Pragya called the cure scientific, saying, "I am a living example of its effectiveness."
She also claimed that rubbing a cow in a certain way can help one control their blood pressure. "If you rub gau mata from the back towards the neck she will be pleased. If you do it every day, your BP will stay in control," she said as she fed cows in a cattle shelter.
Explaining the cure in detail, Sadhvi Pragya said, "If you rub the cow from back to the neck, you will experience joy and the cow will also experience joy but if you rub her from neck to back the animal will feel uneasy. If you rub from back to front, your BP will be maintained. This is Amrit (divine nectar). This is scientific. A gaushala (cow shelter) is the best place for Tapasya (penance)."
Sadhvi Pragya filed her nomination papers for the Lok Sabha election from Bhopal on Monday amid chanting of mantras. The BJP candidate, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, currently out on bail, filed her nomination based on what she claimed was an "auspicious time" after arriving at the collectorate here with 11 priests who chanted mantras.
The 48-year-old right-wing activist said she would file her papers "formally" on Tuesday.
She said she chose the time to file her nomination on Monday based on "choghadiya", a Hindu Vedic calendar.
Sadhvi Pragya, making her electoral debut, is pitted against senior Congress leader and former chief minister Digvijay Singh. Bhopal, a BJP bastion since 1989, will vote on May 12.
EC notice aside, Sadhvi Pragya targets Hemant Karkare again
In the middle of her Lok Sabha campaign in Bhopal, Sadhvi Pragya accused Ashoka Chakra recipient Hemant Kakare of torturing her in custody.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rahul Kanwal
Rahul Kanwal
Bhopal
April 22, 2019UPDATED: April 22, 2019 23:53 IST
Sadhvi Pragya on Hemant Karkare
In her interview to India Today TV, Sadhvi Pragya alleged she was beaten up in Hemant Karkare's custody. (Photo: Twitter/rahulkanwal)
HIGHLIGHTS
Sadhvi Pragya named Hemant Karkare as her tormentor when she was in custody
She said Hemant Karkare had falsely implicated her in Malegaon blast case
She said the Lok Sabha elections will prove there's nothing like Hindu terror
Undeterred by the Election Commission's notice for her controversial remarks on slain IPS officer Hemant Karkare, BJP candidate Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur continues her tirade against the 26/11 hero.
In the middle of her campaign in Bhopal, she accused the Ashoka Chakra recipient of torturing her in custody.
"That phase, that pain is unimaginable. The kind of pain I underwent cannot be described," she told India Today TV. "You cannot imagine how a saffron-clad sanyasi who had dedicated her life to the nation was subjected to abuse. My sanyasi appearance was reviled," Sadhvi Pragya alleged, referring to her police interrogation in connection with her suspected role in the 2008 Malegaon blast.
She named Hemant Karkare when probed who tormented her during questioning.
"Hemant Karkare. That was when I was held in illegal confinement... I cannot express in words the torture, the filthy expletives I suffered while I was in police custody for eleven days," she charged.
On Saturday, election authorities sought an explanation from the BJP's Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya for her accusations against Hemant Karkare, who was killed in action during the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.
"Hemant Karkare falsely implicated me (in Malegaon blasts) and treated me very badly. I told him your entire dynasty will be erased. He died of his karma," she told party workers last week, sparking widespread criticism.
In her interview to India Today TV, the Sadhvi alleged she was beaten up in Karkare's custody.
"I was asked no question but was beaten up instead," she alleged.
HITTING RIVALS OVER HINDUTVA PLANK
The Sadhvi reiterated her accusations that she was a victim of "conspiracy". "The UPA government hatched a conspiracy and got me arrested in 2008. They tried to frame me in what they called saffron or Hindu terror."
Sadhvi Thakur sought to portray her election bid as an attempt to prove that saffron terror, as alleged by her opponents, does not exist in Indian tradition.
"I am not here to polarise. This election will, in fact, establish that there's nothing like saffron or Hindu terror," she insisted.
The Sadhvi described her rival from Bhopal, Digvijaya Singh, as the real "author" of her alleged distress, charges the Congress leader rebutted.
"The man who authored my torture is standing as a candidate from here. He's the man behind the mentality that unleashed gross injustice on people like us, imprisoned the nation-loving Hindus and the saffron-clad sanyasis like me," she alleged.
On his part, Digvijay Singh denied her accusations.
"I don't know why she says like this. No case was registered against her during my government," the Congress leader told India Today TV in a separate interview. He insisted that the Sadhvi had been arrested by the Madhya Pradesh police earlier under the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government.
"She should be unhappy with Shivraj Singh. He arrested her twice and put her behind the bars," Singh remarked.
But the Sadhvi sounded unforgiving. She attacked the Congress candidate over the Hindutva plank.
"If he (Singh) was a Hindu, he couldn't have denigrated saffron or the Hindus as terrorists. He had referred to Hindu terrorism," she claimed.
