In the Malegaon 2008 blast case, a special NIA court in Mumbai gave a big verdict and ordered an inquiry against Maharashtra ATS (ATS) officer Shekhar Bagde. The court gave this decision when it was alleged in the NIA charge sheet that Bagde deliberately placed parts of RDX in the house of an accused.
In 2011, NIA took the investigation of this case with ATS. After its investigation, the NIA filed a charge sheet, in which he gave a clean chit to former Bhopal BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur. In this charge sheet, it was claimed that ATS officer Shekhar Bagde had forcefully entered the house of one accused Sudhakar Chaturvedi in the Malegaon blast and placed parts of RDX. Chaturvedi was a military informer and lived near Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit (retired) in Devallali Cantt area of Nashik. Purohit was also arrested on charges of conspiracy in this case, in addition to supplying RDX and making bombs.
Special Judge AK Lahoti admitted that the NIA in its investigation cited the testimony of a Major of the army and a Subedar. Both of them told that when Chaturvedi was not at home, the gardeners secretly entered their house and hid parts of RDX there. Major and Subedar also told the Court of Inquiry that Bagde had told them not to complain to anyone about this, but two days later the ATS team raided that house and recovered a substance like RDX used in Malegaon blast from cotton swabs.
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The court said that this act of Bagde raises doubts. Apart from this, no explanation was given by the ATS. In such a situation, the court felt that the whole matter indicates the possibility of ‘fact planting’ i.e. deliberate evidence.
Question on fake medical certificate
The court ordered that along with the suspected act of Shekhar Bagde, another serious issue should be investigated. The court found that some medical certificates, which showed the injuries of the alleged victims, were issued by non-recognized doctors at the behest of ATS authorities. The court refused to accept such certificates. Apart from this, the court also came to know that some medical certificates were deliberately rigged. The court also directed to examine fake medical certificates.
No concrete evidence was found
Explain that the decision of Malegaon Blast is longer than 1000 pages and it has been said that Maharashtra’s major investigative agency ATS and central agency NIA could not find any concrete evidence to prove their case.
ALSO READ: Malegaon 2008 Blast Case: NIA Court said – flaws in evidence, many allegations have not been proved
What did the court say?
The judge said that it is important to record that I am fully aware of the seriousness of the pain, frustration and trauma to the society. Especially the families of the victims realize that there was no punishment for such heinous crime. However, the law does not allow the court to convict the accused on the basis of moral belief or doubt only. He said that there is no religion of terrorism, because no religion teach violence. The court has to work on the basis of public sentiment, but on the basis of evidence.
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