Malegaon blast case: SC notice on removal of prosecutor

Mumbai, Sept 11: The Supreme Court of India today issued notices to the Union Government and National Investigating Agency on a petition seeking a fair trial into the Malegaon blast case of 2008. The petition also challenged the removal of Rohini Salian who was the public prosecutor in the case.

The petition filed by activist and social worker, Harsh Mander had sought for a fair trial into the Malegaon blasts case. He had also challenged the removal of the prosecutor and termed the move as illegal and arbitrary in nature.

The petition was filed before the Supreme Court after Rohini Salian had told a newspaper that she was being pressurized to go slow in the case. She had accused the NIA of pressurizing her to go soft on the blast accused. The NIA however denied the charge terming it as baseless.

In the petition it was stated that the interference by the state in a judicial process is a violation of fundamental right to free and transparent trial. The duty of the state is to protect its citizens from terror irrespective of where it originates from, the petition also stated.

The petition while stating that the allegations made by the prosecutor cannot be taken lightly also sought from the court a direction to the Centre and the NIA to appoint an independent public prosecutor.

OneIndia News