Pragya Thakur's absence hampering blast trial, says court; seeks report on her health from NIA
Mumbai, Apr 3: A special court here on Wednesday observed that BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur's absence in the September 2008 Malegaon blast case trial was hampering the proceedings, and asked the NIA to submit a report on her health.
The court passed the order after the Member of Parliament from Bhopal, a prime accused in the case, sought another exemption from appearance citing health problems.
A K Lahoti, special judge for National Investigation Agency cases, asked the central agency to verify her health condition and submit a report by April 8.
The court had on March 11 issued a bailable warrant against the Bhopal MP for failing to attend the proceedings despite being specifically directed.
The warrant was cancelled on March 22 after Thakur appeared before the court. But she failed to appear after that.
While granting her exemption on March 28, the court had directed Thakur to appear on April 3, warning that a non-bailable warrant would be issued against her otherwise.
On Wednesday, her lawyer again sought exemption, claiming that the nature of her ailments was severe. Her physical condition was beyond her control and she was seeking treatment at her home in Bhopal on doctors' advice, the application said.
A doctor, after examining her, advised her bed rest and a certificate has been provided with the application, it said.
The NIA, however, told the court that as Thakur was not in Mumbai, it could not verify her claims.
"The directions which were given from time to time are well within the knowledge of advocates appearing on behalf of Thakur and the delay is caused due to absence of the accused. Hence, considering the aforesaid aspects, a necessary order be passed," the NIA submitted.
The court noted that statement of the accused was being recorded under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (where an accused can explain, in person, any circumstances appearing in the evidence against him or her).
"She has been absent since long except on 22/03/2024. On 22/03/2024, accused no 1 (Thakur) appeared before the court and considering her physical and medical condition, she was allowed to leave the court," it said.
The accused's presence was necessary to record her statement and her absence was hampering the court proceedings, the judge added.
The certificate produced by her lawyer states that Thakur is suffering from cervical-spondylitis and migraine, but prescription, treatment papers and test papers have not been submitted, and therefore, "verification of the health condition is required," the court said.
"NIA, Mumbai, can make correspondence with their unit at Bhopal and verify the health condition and submit the report accordingly on or before April 8," the order said while exempting Thakur from appearance for the day.
Six people were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a communally sensitive town about 200 km from Mumbai in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.
The case was initially probed by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra police before it was transferred to the NIA.
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Putin meets Iran's FM Araghchi, says Russia ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia
Moscow (PTI): Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday met Russian President Vladimir Putin, who hailed the Iranian people for fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty and said Moscow is ready to do its best to help bring peace to West Asia as soon as possible.
Araghchi, who held talks with Omani and Pakistani leadership before arriving in Russia, met Putin in St. Petersburg and thanked him for supporting Iran, state-owned TASS news agency reported.
"Russia is ready to do everything in its power to ensure that peace in the Middle East is achieved as soon as possible," Putin said during his meeting with Araghchi, which was also attended by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
Revealing that he received a message from Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei last week, Putin asked Araghchi to convey his "gratitude for this message and best wishes for his health and well-being."
He praised the Iranian people for fighting "bravely and heroically" for their sovereignty, Iran's state-run PRESS TV reported.
"We really hope that, based on the courage and desire for independence, the Iranian people, under the guidance of the new leader, will weather this difficult period of trials and peace will come,” Putin said.
He also stressed that Russia “intends to maintain” its strategic relations with Iran.
Araghchi said that the world witnessed Iran’s strength in countering the US during the recent war, and that the Islamic Republic is a "stable and powerful establishment."
"With their courage, the Iranian people succeeded in resisting the US aggression and will be able to endure it,” he said.
He said that it became clear that Iran has “great friends and allies” like Russia, and conveyed “warmest greetings” from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian leader.
Araghchi said relations between Moscow and Tehran represent a “strategic partnership at the highest level” and will continue to develop "regardless of circumstances."
"We are grateful to you for the solid and strong positions in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran," he said.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said that the talks between President Putin and the Iranian Foreign Minister were "useful and constructive."
Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov later said that Russia is "ready to provide any good offices, any mediation services that are acceptable to the parties."
"We will be ready to do everything so that ultimately peace ensues, guaranteed peace, and that there is no return to hostilities," Peskov was quoted as saying by TASS.
He was asked how Moscow can assist in future negotiations on the Iranian settlement.
Araghchi arrived in Russia after his whirlwind trip to Islamabad, which, according to him, was “very productive” and involved “good consultations" with Pakistan's Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, amid uncertainty over the second round of peace talks to resolve the war in West Asia.
"We held good consultations with our friends in Pakistan. The trip was successful. We assessed the outcome of our recent (meetings) and discussed in what direction and under what conditions talks can move on,” Araghchi said in a video posted on his Telegram channel upon his arrival in St Petersburg.
Referring to the second round of talks between the US and Iran to resolve the conflict in West Asia, Araghchi said: "Developments have taken place in the negotiations."
"Despite some progress in earlier rounds, the talks failed to reach their objectives due to the Americans' approach, the excessive demands they made, and the wrong approaches they adopted. Therefore, it was necessary to consult with our friends in Pakistan to review the latest situation,” Iran's official news agency IRNA quoted him as saying.
He said that the trip to Pakistan was a good opportunity to review developments related to the US-Israeli war against Iran, expressing confidence that “these consultations and coordination between the two countries will be highly significant.”
Araghchi arrived at St. Petersburg's Pulkovo Airport early Monday, where he was welcomed by Russian officials and Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, the report said.
The first round of peace talks between Iran and the US, held on April 11 and 12, failed to bring the desired result for the parties to the conflict.
The Iranian minister arrived in Islamabad for the second time on Sunday after a short visit to Oman, where he held talks with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said on security in the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic efforts to end the Iran-US conflict.
After Araghchi left Pakistan for Oman on Saturday, President Donald Trump announced that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would no longer be going to Islamabad for talks with Iran, contending that Washington held all the cards on the matter.
Trump on Sunday reiterated that the US and Iranian officials can talk by phone for a peace solution to the conflict.
On Tuesday, Trump extended the two-week ceasefire with Iran indefinitely to give Tehran more time to prepare a unified proposal to end the war, just hours before the truce was set to expire.
The war began when the US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top commanders. The retaliation by the Islamic Republic extended the war to the entire Gulf region.
