A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai conducting trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case on Tuesday directed all the seven accused, including BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col Prasad Purohit, to appear before it on December 3.

The court's direction came in response to a plea filled by one of the victim's family, seeking day-to-day trial in the case, which is currently being probed by the NIA. Judge P R Sitre asked all the accused to appear before court on Thursday.