NIA not ready to file Malegaon terror case charge sheet at this stage

April 21, 2016

New Delhi, Apr 21: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has sought more time from a Mumbai court to file a charge sheet in the 2008 Malegaon blast case involving members of Abhinav Bharat, even as Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi refused to decide whether the agency should retain the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in the case.

Though the case was transferred to the NIA in 2011, it has still not filed a charge sheet owing to the delay in the probe and multiple petitions filed by the main accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, who have questioned the applicability of the MCOCA.

It is learnt that Mr. Rohatgi has only given a “verbal suggestion” to the agency and has not given any written reply. The NIA, through the Home Ministry, had written to Mr. Rohatgi, seeking its reply on dropping MCOCA charges against the 14 accused, including Lt. Col. Purohit and Thakur.

An NIA official said that even if MCOCA charges were dropped, the Sections under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act were enough to prosecute the accused.

The NIA recently opposed the discharge of nine Muslim youths despite its charge sheet having named Abhinav Bharat, an extremist group.

The development comes on the heels of a series of moves by the NIA to review cases of “Hindu terror” between 2006 and 2008.

It could be recalled here that Rohini Salian, the then Special Public Prosecutor in the case related Malegaon terror attack carried out by Hindutva extremists during Ramadan, had revealed in 2015 that since the Narendra Modi government came to power, she had been under pressure from the NIA to go “soft” saffron terrorists involved in this case.

Also Read: Modi govt pressurizing me to go soft' on saffron terrorists: Rohini Salian

Comments

RSS killed hemant karkare to destroy evidences.

If Gujrat rioters can become the minister then this is nothing infront of them. Expecting justice from Jumla Government is an foolishness.

You know whose govt. is it....it can twist law to get these criminals out....

Shadhvi should be hanged for the crime she did. May God save my india from Saffron Terrorists.

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QR-code tips power Mangaluru's major drug bust: 25 arrested in 2 weeks

News Network

December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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