Sanction must for prosecution, says Malegaon blast accused

Issue can be decided once trial ends: NIA

Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, told the Bombay High Court on Monday that sanction should be sought from the government before prosecuting him in the case. Advocate Shrikant Shivade, representing Mr. Purohit, said the special National Investigation Agency court conducting the trial said the issue of sanction would be decided at the end of the trial. However, the Supreme Court had ruled that it should be decided at the time of framing of charges. Mr. Shivade argued that prior sanction should be sought under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (prosecution of judges and public servants). He went on to say that Mr. Purohit was playing his role and discharging his official duty by gathering information and that he was an “unsung hero” of the Army.