Malegaon blast case: Bombay HC rejects Lt Col Purohit’s appeal seeking a stay on the trial

The Bombay High Court refused to grant any interim stay on the ongoing 2008 Malegaon blast case trial while hearing a petition filed by Purohit who is an accused in the case.

The Bombay High Court has refused to grant any interim stay on the ongoing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case while hearing a petition filed by Lt Col Prasad Purohit, an accused in the case.

Advocates MR Venkatesh and Viral, appearing for Purohit, sought a stay on the trial. "I am seeking a stay on the trial," Venkatesh said.

But the bench of Justices PB Varale and SM Modak stopped him and said that they were not inclined to stay the trial.

"The trial is already mid way with many witnesses already produced. We are not at all inclined towards passing any order which will block the trial,” the bench said.

In the trial, 245 witnesses have been produced in court by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) till now, where 20 of them have turned hostile.

This is not the first time that Purohit has been seeking a stay on the trial before the Bombay High Court. His request for the same was rejected earlier as well.Venkatesh was arguing on Purohit's behalf on a plea challenging the validity of the sanction granted by the government to prosecute him under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in the case.

The HC will hear the plea on the issue of sanction further on June 21.