Judge AK Lahoti among those shifted in Bombay High Court's annual transfers; trial near judgment stage
Mumbai, April 6 — In a significant development just as the high-profile 2008 Malegaon blast case nears its conclusion, Special NIA Court Judge AK Lahoti has been transferred to Nashik as part of the Bombay High Court’s annual general transfer of district judges.The transfer order, issued by the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court, will take effect after the courts reopen post the summer vacation on June 9. The directive also instructs all transferred judges to complete judgments in fully-heard cases and to endeavour to dispose of part-heard matters before handing over their responsibilities.
Case nearing judgment stage
The timing of the transfer is noteworthy, as Judge Lahoti had on Saturday directed both the prosecution and defence to conclude their final arguments by April 15, with the matter likely to be reserved for judgment the following day, according to a defence lawyer involved in the case.The 2008 Malegaon blast case has remained one of India’s most politically and communally sensitive terror cases. On September 29, 2008, a bomb strapped to a motorcycle detonated near a mosque in Malegaon — a town in Nashik district, about 200 km from Mumbai — killing six people and injuring over 100 others.
High-profile accused under trial
The accused include BJP MP Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, and five others, all of whom are facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).The investigation was initially led by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) but was transferred to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in 2011, given the gravity and national implications of the case.
As the legal proceedings inch towards closure, all eyes are now on whether Judge Lahoti will deliver the judgment before his transfer takes effect — a move that could mark a turning point in a case that has spanned over 16 years.
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