Malegaon blast accused to face long haul in custody under MCOCA

Mumbai, Nov 20 (UNI) With the prosecution pressing for application of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the 11 accused, suspected to be involved in the September 29 Malegaon bomb blast, they will have to brace themselves for being in custody for at least six months under this act as bail is given only in the rare of rarest cases.

Once this act is applied in a case, all the arrested accused or wanted accused would be tried under this act only.

According to the provisions of this act, once a person is booked under this act, he or she cannot get bail for a minimum of six months, while the minimum punishment if found guilty under any provision of this act is five years and a penalty of Rs five lakh.

Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian, who was a member of the committee which gave birth to MCOCA, said this act mainly came in existance because of increasing activities of the underworld in the city. This act has had a severe impact on syndicate crime activity and reduced underworld activities, she said, adding, this act was enacted owing to repeal of the Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (TADA) Act in the mid-90s.

The act came into force in the year 1999 in Maharashtra to curb the organised crime syndicate, especially underworld activities, in the commercial capital.

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