ATS files chargesheet in Malegaon blast case

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) has filed the chargesheet against 11 accused in the Malegaon blast case before the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) court in Mumbai.

The chargesheet running into over 4,000 pages was filed on Tuesday afternoon.

The defence lawyers told the the court that details of sanctions need to be examined before the chargesheet is filed, which was immediately submitted by the prosecution before the court.

"Sanctions have been obtained from Additional Director General KP Raghuvanshi. The sanctions have been granted for the application of MCOCA, Unlawful Activities (UAPA), Explosives Act, Arms Act. Each of the 11 accused has been charged for aiding, abetting and conspiring the Malegaon blast on September 29, 2008," prosecution lawyers said

Six people were killed and more than 70 were injured in Malegaon blast and most of the accused are believed to be members of a Hindu terror group.

The breakthrough in the case had come in October and November last year. It began with recovery of the motorcycle used in the blast which led investigators to arrest Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in Surat.

Along with the sadhvi ATS arrested Shyam Lal Sahu for aiding in the blasts and Shivnarayan Kalsangra for allegedly assembling the bombs.

Sameer Kulkarni, Retd Major Ramesh Upadhayay and serving Indian Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Srikant Prasad Purohit were arrested for their alleged hand in the conspiracy.

Self-proclaimed godman Swami Dayanand Pandey was also named as a co-conspirator.

The ATS is banking on some crucial evidence it has collected.

It includes - the forensic report which says RDX was used in the bomb; recordings of the meetings between the sadhvi, Lt Col Purohit and Swami Dayanand Pandey; SMSs exchanged between Lt Col Purohit and Major Ramesh Upadhyay; recorded telephone conversations between the sadhvi and the alleged bomber Ramnarayan Singh Kalsangra and the confessional statement of Dayanand Pandey.

Yet the defence claims the ATS' case is weak.

“They have not been able to establish any specific material required," said defence lawyer Navin Chomal.

Maharashtra ATS has booked all the accused under 120 B for conspiracy of Malegaon blasts. But with the three main executioners of the blast still at large, it'll be interesting to see how the police will prove this in the court - something which is also essential to ensure conviction in the case.