After Nine Years In Jail, Lt Col Purohit Granted Bail By SC In 2008 Malegaon Blast Case

The Supreme Court has set aside a Bombay High Court order and granted bail to Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit in 2008 Malegaon blast case.

On 17 August, the apex court reserved its order on the bail plea of Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, who has been in jail for nine years. Lawyer Harish Salve, appearing for Lieutenant Colonel Purohit told the court that he did not want to be discharged, but for the interest of justice, wanted an interim bail.

Salve told the apex court that Lieutenant Colonel Purohit was allegedly caught in the political crossfire and was falsely implicated in the case. Opposing Lieutenant Colonel Purohit's bail plea, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) argued that the Bombay High Court order should be upheld by the apex court.

His bail plea was earlier rejected by the Bombay High Court saying the charges against him were of a grave nature, after which he moved to the top court.

Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, a former military officer, is one of the accused in the 2008 blasts, along with Sadhvi Pragya and others. Pragya had been granted relief in the case by the Bombay High Court. The NIA had filed its reply in the case, saying that there was ample evidence against Purohit, but not against her.

The 2008 Malegaon blasts claimed four lives and left nearly 79 injured. (ANI)