Notice to Maharashtra on Pragya Singh’s bail plea (Second Lead)

NEW DELHI - The Supreme Court Monday issued a notice to the Maharashtra government on a bail petition of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, the main accused in 2008 Malegaon bomb blast.

Thakur and 10 others have been arrested for the blast in Malegaon, a textile town in north Maharashtra, on Sep 29, 2008, in which six people were killed and 101 injured.

The apex court bench of Justice J.M. Panchal and Justice Gyan Sudha Mishra issued the notice after senior counsel Mahesh Jethmalani told the court that Thakur was kept in illegal detention from Oct 10-23.

According to police, Thakur was arrested under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Oct 23, 2008.

Jethmalani told the court that Thakur was denied access to her lawyer.

Thakur has contended that she was unlawfully detained by the Maharashtra Police Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) Oct 10-23, 2008. According to the ATS, Thakur was arrested Oct 23.

Her bail plea was rejected by the Bombay High Court Mar 12, 2010.