The Special NIA court on Monday adjourned the hearing in 2008 Malegaon blast case for Tuesday. BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur sought exemption from daily appearance in court on health and security grounds. The court asked her to file an application and to be present in court whenever asked.

BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and other accused in 2008 Malegaon blast case were asked to appear before the court.

Earlier on December 19, Pragya’s lawyer, advocate JP Mishra said that it was National Investigation Agency (NIA) that was delaying the trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case.

Atleast six people were killed and around 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Maharashtra’s Malegaon on September 29, 2008.

Lt Col Purohit, Chaturvedi and Kulkarni, Ajay Rahirkar, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay and Sudhakar Dwivedi are also accused in the case.

They have been charged under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), the Explosive Substances Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The charges include Sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of the UAPA and Sections 120(b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153(a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups) of the IPC.