Trouble for Sadhvi Pragya, witness identifies BJP MP's motorcycle in connection with 2009 Malegaon Blast

In a major development in the terror blast case against BJP MP from Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya, the witness has identified the bike used during 2008 Malegaon blast case. A witness has testified in the court and has identified Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur's motorbike.

Sources informed that Sadhvi Pragya was involved in the case becasue her motorbike was used during the blast. Further investigations are underway in the case. The damaged motorcycle and bicycles were produced before the special NIA court today in Mumbai for identification of evidences. One of the witnesses identified the vehicles as the ones he saw on the day of the blasts.  Hearing at NIA Special Court in the case has been adjourned for tomorrow, only one accused Sameer Kulkarni was present today while examining the evidence.

WATCH: Sadhvi Pragya Thakur skips court summons in 2008 Malegaon case citing health reasons, instead goes to attend political event

Charges against Sadhvi Pragya: 

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is an accused in the Malegaon blast case and now BJP MP from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, constituency. Saffron-clad Thakur (48), with her trademark short hair and sporting a rudraksh mala, became the face of right wing extremism after being arrested by the Maharashtra Anti- Terrorism Squad in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Currently she is out on bail.

On December 27, 2017, a special NIA court had dropped stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act charges against Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya,Sameer Kulkarni and other accused in the blast case. A post-graduate in history, she worked with the RSS student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Durga Vahini, women's wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. In April 2017, the Bombay High Court approved bail for Thakur, who the ATS had said was among the prime conspirators of the blast. Six persons were killed and 101 were injured when an improvised explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off at Malegaon on September 29, 2008. 

WATCH: Poll Staff Of Digvijaya Singh And Sadhvi Pragya Play Antakshari Outside EVM Strong Room In Bhopal, Share Light Moment After Superheated Campaign

Election controversy: 

Sadhvi Pragya contested the elections from Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal constituency against Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh. Bhopal, a bastion of the BJP with the party ruling the constituency for nearly three decades. The seat has been in the BJP's kitty since the elections for the ninth Lok Sabha which took place in 1989 - 30 years.

In 2019, the BJP pitted 2008 Malegaon blasts case accused Sadhvi Pragya, currently on bail, against Digvijaya Singh who is known for having been a big proponent of the ‘Hindu terror/Saffron terror’ charge of the erstwhile UPA government. Sadhvi Pragya, in particular, made several remarks during the campaigning phase which triggered outrage. First, claiming that martyred ATS chief Hemant Karkare had held her in custody while questioning her in the terror case without any evidence, she said, "You will find it difficult to believe, when I cursed him that 'you will be annihilated', and just over a month later he was killed by terrorists, marking his end."

She later made a communal statement claiming that she was part of the mob which demolished Babri Masjid.“I was present there (Ayodhya). I had broken the structure. I had demolished the structure. I will go there again. I will help in the construction of our Ram Temple. It is not a controversial issue. Ram Temple was there and I will help in constructing a magnificent temple of Lord Ram." Amid the elections, she called Nathuram Godse a patriot while reacting to actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan's remark where said that 'free India's first terrorist was a Hindu'.The Election Commission had filed an FIR over her Babri Masjid comment and served her notices to explain her conduct following her statements on Karkare and Babri Masjid.

Meanwhile, Digvijaya Singh, appearing to be on a backfoot during campaigning, seemed to take desperate measures, finding refuge in the kind of show of ‘Hindutva’ that his own party routinely criticises. During his canvassing, even the police officials on duty in plain clothes claimed they were made to wear saffron scarves. Singh also surrounded himself with sadhus, most notably ‘Computer Baba’.

WATCH: Poll Staff Of Digvijaya Singh And Sadhvi Pragya Play Antakshari Outside EVM Strong Room In Bhopal, Share Light Moment After Superheated Campaign