2008 Malegaon Blast Case: Accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit Seeks Ban On Media From Reporting Proceedings

Incidentally, Purohit's plea comes soon after reports of nearly 16 crucial witnesses in the case being declared hostile. He claims that the media has violated the court's order allowing permission to report in a restricted manner, therefore, the media should not be allowed in the courtroom.

The Special Court has now sought a response to the plea, if any, from the National Investigation Agency, the co-accused and the intervenor (victim). Purohit has filed similar applications several times before.

The Malegaon blast happened on September 29, 2008, in which 6 people lost their lives and 101 were injured. Purohit, Thakur and five others are facing charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and IPC in the case.

In 2019, the National Investigation Agency had moved a similar application for in-camera proceedings, however the plea was dismissed after eleven journalists intervened and opposed the prayer.

The special court had observed that the media is the "main pillar of democracy" and plays a role in providing correct information to the public. Then Special Judge V S Padalkar had cited conducting the trial in a "transparent manner" was among the reasons for rejecting the NIA's plea. Even back then Purohit, Thakur and another accused Dayanand Charuvedi had supported the gag.

In his present application seeking a media ban, Purohit has said, "It is requested that in the interest of justice and conduct of fair trial the case should remain confined to the court room and should not be allowed to be high-jacked by opinion makers and anti national opportunists."

Like before, the intervenor - Nisar Bilal orally opposed the application filed by Purohit and sought time to file a written reply. He was represented by Advocate Shahid Ansari. They argued that similar requests made by Purohit have been rejected several times in the past.

The intervenor had in fact written to the NIA's SP regarding several witnesses turning hostile in the case. The letter sought for the agency to reach out to the State Anti-Terrorism Squad for assistance and for an "effective" trial regarding witnesses being called to court in a haphazard manner.

Accused Sameer Kulkarni also opposed the present application.

In 2016, Purohit had urged the court to hear the case in camera and the media was restrained from reporting till the charges were framed in the case. Subsequently Purohit filed two more applications for a ban on publishing the proceedings which was rejected on February 2, 2017.

The Blast

On September 29, 2008, the bomb blast was caused in Malegaon by an explosive fitted to an LML Freedom Motor Cycle. Investigations in the case pointed to alleged Hindu extremists based in Indore. Twelve people were arrested.

Purohit and BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, along with four others have been charged with murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony, relevant sections under The Arms Act, The Indian Explosive Substances Act, and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.