2008 Malegaon Blast Case: Judge Transferred

Special NIA court judge AK Lahoti, conducting the trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, has been transferred to Nashik as part of the annual general transfer of district judges. This development comes days before the court was set to reserve its judgment.

Key Details

- Transfer Order: The Bombay High Court's registrar general issued the transfer order, effective June 9, after the summer vacation.

- Directives: Judges under transfer are instructed to conclude pending judgments and dispose of part-heard cases before handing over charge.

The Case

The 2008 Malegaon blast occurred on September 29, 2008, killing six and injuring over 100 near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra. The accused, including BJP leader Pragya Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, face charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Investigation and Trial

- Initial Probe: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) investigated the case before it was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011.

- Trial Progress: The last hearing saw judge Lahoti directing prosecution and defense to wrap up arguments by April 15, with judgment expected the following day.

Key Figures

- AK Lahoti: Special NIA court judge overseeing the trial.

- Pragya Thakur: BJP leader and accused in the case.

- Lt Col Prasad Purohit: Co-accused in the case.