NIA court allows Malegaon blast accused to visit his house

The special NIA court today rejected the application seeking temporary bail filed by Sudhakar Dwivedi, one of the accused in the 2008 Malegoan blast case.

However, it allowed Dwivedi to visit his house in Kanpur under a police escort for which he will have to pay.

“The court rejected his bail application. However, it allowed him to go to his native place along with the police escort from January 19 to February 1”, special NIA prosecutor Avinash Rasal said.

Dwivedi had earlier, though his lawyer Kanishk Jayant, moved an application seeking temporary bail.

The court has also set out 12 conditions which Dwivedi will have to adhere to for going to his native place.

Special judge S D Tekale has directed that Dwivedi will give his address and list of his family members to the Superintendent of Taloja jail (in Navi Mumbai) where he is lodged.

The court also directed that Dwivedi will not leave the jurisdiction of Kanpur city.

“Accused shall not contact any witnesses concerned with the case and he will not speak to any person over phone without the prior permission of the escort party”, it said.

12 persons, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt.Col Prasad Purohit, were arrested for carrying out a blast at Malegaon on September 29, 2008, killing six persons and injuring 100 others.

The accused have been booked under stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), besides Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Following a Supreme Court order, a special court under the provisions of NIA Act has been constituted to exclusively hear the case.