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Sadhvi pleads for justice amidst drama in court
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November 03, 2008 21:35 IST

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, arrested in connection with Malegaon blasts, allegedly had a long telephonic conversation with the absconding main accused in the case and asked why there had been less casualties in the incident, the prosecution told a court in Nashik on Monday.

Case against Sadhvi lacks fairness, says BJP

The lawyer of Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad told Chief Judicial Magistrate K D Boche, before whom Thakur and two others were produced amidst high drama, that during the long conversation between her and prime accused Ramji after the September 29 Malegaon blasts, Ramji told her "I have done my job".

Pragya asked Ramji whether police have seized her motorcycle used in Malegaon blasts and why less people had killed in the blasts, said the prosecution.

Ramji told Pragya that 'I did not find proper parking place for the bike', claimed the prosecution.

The court sent the sadhvi, Shivnarayan Singh Kalsangram and Shyam Bhawarlal Sahu to magisterial custody till November 17 in connection with the blast that left six persons dead.

When the CJM asked Pragya Singh Thakur whether she wanted to speak, the sadhvi replied, "I have to tell you a lot of things and needs long time."

She asked the court: "Can I get justice?"

Pragya fainted briefly but regained consciousness after having water.

The court also remanded three others arrested in connection with the Malegaon blasts to police custody till November 10. They are Ajay Rahirkar, Jagdish Mhatre and Rakesh Dhawade.

The ATS told the court that Sadhvi was arrested after her bike was found used in the Malegaon blasts. She is being treated as the main culprit on the basis of her telephonic conversation with Ramji who had allegedly planted the bomb in Malegaon.

Ganesh Sovani, a local advocate pleading on behalf of Sadhvi, told the court that she was detained by ATS on October 11 and she is in custody till today. "This is illegal," he added.

Accused Shyamlal Bhawarlal Sahu, who owns a mobile phone shop in Madhya Pradesh [Images], told the court that, "I do not know about Sadhvi Prgya Singh but I have sold a mobile to her."

The court was also told that one Kailash Solanki, a servant in the mobile shop of Sahu, reportedly refilled SIM cards of Pragya.

The ATS told the court that Rahirkar had provided funds while Mhatre provided illegal weapons and police have recovered 9 mm revolver and 196 catridges from Rakesh Dhawade.

Advocate Dharmendra [Images] Chavan, arguing on behalf of Dhawade told the court that Dhawade provides 'duplicate' arms for period dramas like 'Janata Raja' and got awards for the same.

He was arrested by ATS for the same reason, he alleged.

The accused were produced in the court around 14.30 hrs and they were brought out the court at 17.45 hrs.

The ATS told the court that during the mobile phone conversation Ramji told Sadhvi to tell the police that she had sold her motorcycle, which was used in the blasts, in Gujarat.

Pragya Singh Thakur's lawyer told the court that the polygraphic tests carried out on her in Mumbai was illegal.

Pragnya Singh Thakur's narco test is likely to be conducted on Tuesday.

The ATS demanded 14 days' police custody of Rahirkar, Mhatre and Rakesh Dhawade but the court granted them custody till November 10.

Retired major Ramesh Shivji Upadhyay and Abhinav Bharat organisation activist Sameer Kulkarni, who were arrested by ATS and remanded till November 10, will also be produced again in Nasik court after their remand ends.

Tight police security was in place around the court where Shiv Sena, BJP, Hindu Ekata Andolan Party, Abhinav Bharat, Hindu Mahasabha, Hindu Rashtrawadi leaders staged demonstrations protesting the arrest of the sadhvi, Sameer Kulkarni and retired major Ramesh Upadhyay in connection with Malegaon blasts.

The protestor shouted slogans against the state government and ATS for allegedly implicating the Hindu leaders in the blasts and said 'we will remain firm behind them'.

Himani Savarkar, president of Hindu Mahasabha, told reporters that the sadhvi was implicated in the blasts and asked the government why it was silent in other blasts, including those in Assam.

Himani was not allowed to go into court premises and she wanted to present a copy of 'Bhagwat Gita'.

Sovani also moved an application before the court complaining that the ATS has illegally detained the accused. To this, the court told him that after having discussions with Public Prosecutor Ajay Misar it will consider his application.


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