Is Malegaon blast accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit, 36, out on bail since the last four months, taking his freedom for granted?
Lt Col Prasad Purohit, who was granted bail by the SC, has rejoined the armed forces. File pic
Is Malegaon blast accused Lt Col Prasad Purohit, 36, out on bail since the last four months, taking his freedom for granted? Also accused in a 2003 arms case in Pune, Purohit is supposed to attend court hearings and abide by summons served in this case, as he isn't behind bars anymore. Allegations, however, are that despite repeated reminders he hasn't turned up in court for the ongoing trial. The assistant public prosecutor has sought framing of charges against Purohit.
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Also read - 2008 Malegaon blasts: MCOCA charges dropped, Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Prasad Purohit to go to trial
The second case
The ATS had booked Purohit in 2008 for allegedly forging documents to obtain a firearm licence in 2003. The case was filed with the Deccan Gymkhana police based on a complaint by Pune resident and Purohit's colleague Milind Date, 43. Date had claimed that Purohit had taken Rs 35,000 and forged his (Date's) documents for getting a firearm licence from the Pune police commissionerate. Date approached the police after Purohit was arrested in the Malegaon case.
Legal arguments
A source said, "As Purohit was behind bars earlier, it wasn't a must for him to be present for the trial in Pune court; but now, he's out on bail; so, it's mandatory for him." However, his lawyer Shrikant Shivde, who had moved an application before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class V B Gulave, seeking a stay on the trial until NIA's verdict, said, "As per provisions of the MCOCA and the UAPA, if a case is pending in any other court, it should be stayed till an order is passed in the main one."
Assistant Public Prosecutor Ujwala Pawar, who's aware of the defence's application, said, "Purohit has been out for four months now, and yet, he hasn't turned up in the Pune court. Last November, I had filed many applications before the court to get a non-bailable warrant issued against him." On Monday, both lawyers submitted their say before Magistrate Gulave; the court has adjourned the matter till January 31.
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