Mumbai, November 24
In a setback to Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad in Malegaon blast case, a MCOCA court here rejected the agency's plea for granting it the custody of accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Ajay Rahirkar after they alleged physical torture and threat to strip and kill them.
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur has charged the ATS with making her hear an obscene CD, while repeating her earlier allegation of physical and mental torture against the investigating agency.
The ATS sought the custody of the trio contending their interrogation was needed to find out the “sinister design of Hindu radical group Abhinav Bharat, which appears to be instrumental in promoting, advocating and inciting unlawful and terrorist activities”.
However, special MCOCA judge Y D Shinde rejected the ATS plea and instead sent them as also four other accused in judicial custody till December 3.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur told the court that she has been mentally and physically harassed by ATS.
“ATS officials threatened to strip me and hang me upside down if I did not confess about my involvement in the blast. I am mentally disturbed and not able to eat anything,” Sadhvi told the judge.
Purohit said he had been hung upside down from a rod and his hands were tied to two poles due to which he has lost sensation from his wrist to his fingers.
“ATS while questioning me said that it would plant RDX in my house and that it would be very easy for it to kill me in an encounter,” Purohit told the court.
— PTI
