The Bombay High Court has given bail to Pragya Singh Thakur in the 2008 Malegaon blasts that targeted Muslims in a ‘revenge attack’ for blasts carried out by Islamist terrorists in India.
Pragya was given a bail even though she was refused the same by the trial court.
The High Court decided to give her bail based on three arguments.
First, it found that in light of the investigation report filed by the National Investigation Agency, the role of Pragya Singh Thakur was not crucial enough for her to be continued to be denied bail.
It also observed that the woman has been in jail for nine years and was suffering from cancer.
The sadhvi has been asked not to speak to any of the witnesses or accused in the case.
There are two chargesheets in the case — one filed by the National Investigation Agency and the other by the Maharashtra state Anti-Terrorism Squad or ATS.
While the ATS finds Pragya of being complicit in planning and carrying out the blasts, the NIA has taken a more lenient view.
According to the latter, she participated in certain meetings but not in those where the operation was planned.
The blast, which took place in a Muslim cemetery next to a place of worship killed 37 and injured 125.
The sadhvi is accused of being member of Abhinav Bharat, an extremist organization allegedly created by military officer Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit.
The case will continue to be heard in the trial court.