The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad on Thursday filed a supplementary charge sheet against Pravin Mutalik before the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court in the September 29, 2008 Malegaon blast case, ATS chief Rakesh Maria told The Hindu.
“With this, the ATS has chargesheeted 12 accused. Two of them are still wanted.”
Planted explosive
The charge sheet said Pravin Mutalik alias Praveen Venkatesh Takkalki alias Pradeep V. Naik was one of the accused who actually planted explosive devices on an LML Freedom motorcycle, which exploded killing six persons and injuring more than 100 others.
Mutalik, who was arrested from Gokak in Karnataka on February 1, 2011, has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the MCOCA, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act.
Mutalik has been accused of “utilising the organisation, namely Abhinav Bharat, as a front for propagating hatred against people who are against their ideology; preparing for a government in exile with the ideology of Hindu Rashtra alone, contrary to the secular policy of the government enshrined in the Constitution of India; preparing for overawing the government; to threaten the unity, integrity and security of India; to strike terror in the people by causing explosions; and conspiring to do away with some members of RSS who are against their ideology.”
The charge sheet said Mutalik got training in making bombs from Rakesh Dhawade (who has also been arrested) at various places including at the Bhosala Military School, Nashik, on the instructions of Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit.
Mutalik stayed at the house of Sudhakar Chaturvedi in Deolali, Nashik, where the explosives were assembled.
While giving reasons for slapping the MCOCA on the 12 accused, the ATS said: “Members of this organised crime syndicate have been committing bomb blasts from 2003... The accused have procured, acquired and transported a huge amount of money, arms and ammunition for continuing their unlawful activities...”
Conspiracy meeting
Mutalik attended a conspiracy meeting arranged by Lt. Col. Purohit in Nashik. He tried to induct youth in the Abhinav Bharat for ammunition training.
Lt. Col. Purohit wanted to make use of Mutalik under the banner of the Abhinav Bharat by organising training camps for like-minded youth to adopt his ideology and also to commit terrorist activities in retaliation for bomb explosions committed by Muslims across the country, the charge sheet stated.
