Special NIA Court rejects Pragya Thakur's plea to get permanent exemption from attending court

A Special NIA court in Mumbai on Thursday rejected Pragya Thakur's application for a permanent exemption from attending the court once a week. Pragya had tried to get herself exempted from the court hearings permanently citing that she had to attend the day to day parliamentary proceedings as she was a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. 

However, the Special NIA Court in Mumbai has given Pragya Thakur an exemption on 20 June from attending the court for the day.

She was granted bail earlier on medical grounds, however, Pragya Thakur was seen attending political rallies and taking part in them. 

Thakur, who is a prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, attended a court hearing earlier this month after taking oath as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha. She refused to sit down on the chair as it was 'uncomfortable' and the premises of the courtroom 'dusty'. Her aides then spread a red velvet cloth for her to sit on. 

READ | DISRESPECTFUL: Rahul Gandhi Stops Sonia Gandhi From Applauding In The Parliament While President Kovind Talks About Surgical Strikes In His Address

In May, this year, the court, which is conducting a trial against seven accused in the case, including Thakur, directed all of them to appear before it at least once a week.

The accused persons are facing trial under various sections of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Pragya Thakur was elected as MP from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls held in May. The Opposition in the Lok Sabha protested against Pragya's attempt to suffix the name of her guru, Swami Purna Chetnanand Avdeshanand Giri to hers, before taking oath as an MP in the Lok Sabha. Despite insisting that it was her official name, the records showed otherwise. 

READ | SHOCKING: SKMC Hospital Seal Gates For Sharad Yadav's Visit, Patients Blocked From Entering Amid Encephalitis Outbreak In Bihar