Not a reflection of whether accused is guilty or not: Congress on Col. Purohit's bail

Chandigarh [India], August 21 (ANI): Hours after the Supreme Court granted bail to the 2008 Malegaon blast accused, Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit, the Congress on Monday said that the grant of bail is not the reflection of whether the accused is guilty or not guilty since the person is facing a trial.

Speaking to ANI, Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that as far as the bail is concerned, it is a common procedure, but the party sincerely hopes that law will take its own course and justice will be done.

"In Malegaon blast of 2008, 37 innocent people lost their lives and over 150 people were injured. The SC has granted bail to Lt. Colonel Purohit, who is one of the accused in the Malegaon blast. Grant of bail is not the reflection of whether the guilt or no guilt of the person concerned since the person if facing trial," he added.

Surjewala further said that it is "strange" that the Modi government could not find any competent police officer in India to head the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that they had to give two extension to the current chief.

"And the principal accused Sadhvi Pragya has been given a clean chit by the NIA in the case. We sincerely hope that law will take its own course and justice will be done free from fear and favour, in the present matter," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court set aside the Bombay High Court earlier order and granted bail to Purohit.

A bench of Justices R.K. Agrawal and A.M. Sapre passed the order on the plea.

Earlier on August 17, the apex court reserved its order on the bail plea of Lieutenant Colonel Purohit.

Senior lawyer, Harish Salve, appearing for Lieutenant Colonel Purohit told the court that he did not want to be discharged from the case at present, but for the interest of justice, wanted an interim bail.

Salve told the apex court that Lieutenant Colonel Purohit was allegedly caught in the political crossfire and was falsely implicated in the case.

Opposing Lieutenant Colonel Purohit's bail plea, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) argued that the Bombay High court order should be upheld by the apex court.

Lieutenant Colonel Purohit's bail plea was earlier rejected by the Bombay High Court saying the charges against him were of a grave nature, after which he moved to the top court.

Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, a former military intelligence officer, is one of the accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts, along with Sadhvi Pragya and others.

The 2008 Malegaon serial blasts claimed four lives and left nearly 79 injured. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI