Mumbai: Malegaon blast accused Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit’s lawyer argued for his client’s bail in the Bombay High Court on Monday, saying that even some of the accused in the Bombay blasts were out on bail.
A Division Bench of Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar Joshi was hearing the appeal filed by Purohit after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary charge sheet dropping charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, against him and five others.
Purohit is facing charges of murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. He has also been charged under the Arms Act, Indian Explosive Substances Act, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Advocate Shrikant Shivade said there is absolutely no evidence against his client on the charge of murder, and the UAPA is not applicable in this case. He said the differences in the charge sheets filed by the Anti-Terrorism Squad and the NIA gave an impression that Purohit is not guilty.
Pressing for bail, Mr. Shivade said Purohit has been in jail for eight years and three months. He went to say that despite the Bombay blasts (in 1993) being more severe, 60 accused in that case are out on bail. The case will be heard on February 1.
