Mumbai: NIA has filed a petition seeking a hearing in a closed room in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case from the Special Court. The NIA claims that unnecessary publicity of court proceedings can harm communal harmony. The investigating agency filed a petition in the court of Special Judge VS Padalkar on Thursday.
The NIA said in a petition that the accused have been charged with committing the crime to avenge Muslim jihadist activities and create disharmony between the two communities. Malegaon was chosen only because it is a Muslim-populated area. The NIA said, during the hearing on the petition filed by Lt Col Prasad Purohit, accused in the case, the Bombay High Court had asked whether the investigating agency had asked the Special Court to hear it in a closed room in view of security and protection of witnesses.
The priest had demanded a full copy of the statements of the witnesses. He said, the issue is related to communal harmony, national security and public order and is sensitive. There is a need to avoid unnecessary publicity. This may harm communal harmony, which may affect the impartiality of the case. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday told the Bombay High Court that it wanted police protection for 38 "sensitive" witnesses of prosecution in the Malegaon blast case. The NIA said it will file a petition in a lower court for the same.
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