Maharashtra Govt to challenge dropping of MCOCA charges in Supreme Court

Pune, Aug 02 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said that his government would challenge the verdict given by the Special Court to drop the charges under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) framed against the 11 accused of the Malegaon blast, in the Supreme Court.

On Friday, a Special Court in Mumbai, dropped provisions of the MCOCA invoked against Sadhvi Pragya Singh, Lt Col Prasad S P Purohit and other accused of September 2008 Malegaon bomb blast.

The Court in its verdict observed that none of these accused are part of an organised crime group.

The court also ordered the trial will be heard in a regular Nashik court and that the accused can now become eligible for regular bail.

Addressing a rally here on Saturday night Chavan said, "We would initiate MCOCA against those involved in terrorist activities irrespective of caste and religion of the accused."

The government would not remain a mute spectator to the menace of disruptive tactics of terrorist elements, Chavan said.

Earlier, Chief of Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) K P Raghuvanshi had said the ATS, which has obtained a four-week stay, would challenge the special court's order in higher court.

The Malegaon blast investigations were the first instance of an official probe which charged a Hindu terrorist group with involvement in serial blasts. (ANI)