A retired chemical analyser who testified recently in the 2008 Malegaon blast trial, told the court during his cross-examination that there is no proof that the explosive device used in the crime was kept under the seat of the LML Freedom motorcycle, but that he concluded so based on observation of the extent of the damage.
The motorcycle was traced to BJP MP Pragya Thakur, leading to her arrest. The blast that had taken place in Nashik’s Malegaon town on Sep 29, 2008, had killed six persons and injured over 100. As per the prosecution’s case, the explosive device was strapped under the seat of the motorcycle.
In 2008, the now 62-year-old witness was working at the Regional Forensic Science Laboratory, Nashik and had visited the blast site and examined articles collected from there, including the LML bike.
On specific questions asked by the defence, he told the court that he had not conducted any scientific test to show that the explosive device was kept on the bike. He said it was only his observation. To another question on whether it is possible to scientifically trace out the source of an explosion, he answered that it cannot be determined scientifically. In his report, he had mentioned observations pointing out to the explosive being attached to the two-wheeler. He said in court to specific questions that the observations of the source depend on the extent of the damage. “It is correct to say that scientifically it cannot be said that the explosive device was kept beneath the seat of the LML Freedom bike,” he stated. He said later in his testimony that it is true that he has “guessed” that the explosive might have been kept beneath the vehicle’s seat and “did not find any proof” of the same.
Among Thakur’s co-accused is Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. During cross-examination by Purohit’s advocate, the expert denied that the blast took place at a nearby Nissar dairy, which had also suffered damages in the blast. The advocate suggested to the witness that due to the impact of the blast at the dairy, the fuel tank of the LML bike had caught fire and burst. Beside the bike was a Honda Unicorn motorcycle. The defence advocate again suggested to the witness that the blast at the dairy had damaged the Unicorn bike. The witness denied this too.
