The Bombay High Court has announced an extension to the tenure of Special NIA Judge A K Lahoti, who is presiding over the 2008 Malegaon blast case, allowing him to continue until August 31. This decision comes shortly after an initial order had designated his transfer to Nashik, slated to take effect post-summer recess on June 9.
Judge Lahoti’s name was included in the annual judges’ transfer list released earlier by the Registrar General of the High Court. Originally, he was due to commence duties in a Nashik court as per the earlier notification this month. However, a revised notification has now put a hold on this transfer, providing him the opportunity to conclude the trial, which is nearing its final stages.
The 2008 Malegaon blast resulted in the tragic loss of six lives, with over 100 individuals sustaining injuries when an explosive device attached to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon, a northern town in Maharashtra approximately 200 km from Mumbai. The incident occurred on September 29, 2008.
Among the accused are BJP leader and former MP of Bhopal, Pragya Singh Thakur, and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, along with five others. They are being tried under the strict provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Initially handled by Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the case was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011 for further investigation.
