2008 Malegaon blast trial: Victims urge Bombay HC CJ to extend special judge's tenure
Mumbai, Mar 24 (PTI): Victims of the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast have urged the Bombay High Court Chief Justice to extend the tenure of the special NIA judge, saying his likely transfer will delay the trial.
Generally, judges of the additional sessions courts are posted in a sessions division for two to three years. The NIA special judge A K Lahoti has been posted in the city civil and sessions court in Mumbai since June 2022.
As he will complete three years of his tenure at Bombay (Mumbai) in the coming months, the victims are apprehensive that he may be transferred to another station during the upcoming annual general transfers without concluding the trial, the blast victims stated in a letter sent through advocate Shahid Nadeem.
"The case is a matter of grave public importance and extremely voluminous in nature", it said, adding that the accused persons who are on bail may not be in a hurry but victims are desperate for justice.
The victims apprehend that any change in the presiding officer may cause an unavoidable delay in the trial as the newly posted presiding officer would be required to familiarise himself with the entire voluminous charge sheet along with exhibited documents.
The prosecution has examined 323 witnesses while the defence examined eight witnesses in the blast case. The trial is at the concluding stage with the court recording the final statements of the accused.
"The hapless victims of the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case wish to seek your intervention and pray before your authority to extend the tenure or retain the special judge till the end of the trial," the letter said.
The trial commenced in 2018 after the special NIA court framed charges against Lt Col Prasad Purohit, the then BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and five others on charges of terror activities, criminal conspiracy, and murder, among others.
Six people were killed and more than 100 injured on September 29, 2008, when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon town in north Maharashtra, some 200 km from Mumbai.
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Gold, silver soar as US-Iran deal hopes lift bullion demand
New Delhi (PTI): Gold prices rebounded by Rs 2,900 to Rs 1.55 lakh per 10 grams in the national capital on Wednesday, while silver climbed to Rs 2.54 lakh per kilogram as easing geopolitical tensions triggered a pullback in oil rates, boosting demand for precious metals.
According to the All India Sarafa Association, the yellow metal of 99.9 per cent purity jumped by Rs 2,900, or nearly 2 per cent, to Rs 1,55,400 per 10 grams (inclusive of all taxes) from Tuesday's closing level of Rs 1,52,500 per 10 grams.
Traders attributed the surge in bullion prices to reports that Washington and Tehran are close to finalising a framework agreement to end months of conflict, raising the prospects of smoother flows through the Strait of Hormuz and easing inflation concerns tied to energy markets.
"Gold rallied strongly on Wednesday as easing geopolitical tensions triggered a sharp reversal in key macro drivers that had recently pressured precious metals," Saumil Gandhi, Senior Analyst - Commodities at HDFC Securities, said.
Silver prices also advanced for the third straight session by rising Rs 3,500, or 1.4 per cent, to Rs 2,54,500 per kg (inclusive of all taxes). The metal had settled at Rs 2,51,000 per kg in the previous session, as per the Association.
"The prospect of a diplomatic breakthrough triggered a steep decline in oil prices and the US dollar, easing concerns about inflation while boosting demand for precious metals," Gandhi said.
Globally, spot gold increased by USD 106.15, or 2.33 per cent, to USD 4,663.70 per ounce while silver gained USD 3.40, or 4.68 per cent, to USD 76.24 per ounce.
"Gold witnessed a sharp rally as markets reacted positively to reports that the US and Iran are moving closer to a one-page agreement framework aimed at ending the conflict," Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst - Commodity and Currency, LKP Securities, said.
Despite strong international gains, rupee strength limited the upside in domestic gold prices. The market is now highly focused on final confirmation and execution of the proposed deal, he added.
Any negative surprise or breakdown in negotiations could trigger a sharp sell-off in gold, while a successful agreement and sustained ceasefire could push the bullion prices higher in the near-term, Trivedi said.
