India: Key suspect in Malegao bombing granted bail

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday granted bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur who was accused of plotting the 2008 Malegaon bombing which left six people dead.

The court asked Sadhvi Pragya to submit her passport to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). She was also asked to report to NIA court whenever required.

However, another suspect in the case, Lt. Colonel Shrikant Purohit was denied bail. Both of them have already spent more than eight years in jail. Sadhvi Pragya is in Bhopal for medical treatment.

Dozens were injured when two bombs fitted on a motorcycle exploded on September 29, 2008 in the Muslim-majority town of Malegaon.

Sadhvi Pragya was arrested in October of the same year for plotting the blasts. The NIA last year dropped charges against Sadhvi Pragya in the absence of sufficient evidence to prosecute her.