Citing busy schedule due to Lok Sabha Elections 2019, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has urged Special NIA Court to exempt her from appearing in Court till May 24. The Court had directed all the seven accused of 2008 Malegaon Blast Case to be present before it at least once a week. The order regarding the same was passed on Friday.
Pragya has filed an application through her advocates J P Mishra and Prashant Maggu alleging that she will not be able to appear before Court till May 24, since she is busy with Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Pragya is contesting Lok Sabha Polls 2019 from Bhopal constituency on a BJP ticket. She informed in the application that since she is a candidate in the elections, she will be busy with some procedures of Election Commission.
She said that she will have to nominate agents for counting of votes in her constituency on May 23. This work will be completed by May 22. She also informed that she will also be busy on the day of counting of votes (May 23) and next day as well since counting may be extended till late night. Thakur sought exemption from appearing before the court between May 20 and 24.
Sudhakar Chaturvedi, another accused in the case also filed a similar application as he is contesting Lok Sabha Elections 2019 from Mirzapur constituency in Uttar Pradesh as an independent candidate. The Court allowed the exemption applications since while directing all the accused to appear before it earlier, the Court had mentioned that exemption can be granted if strong reasons were submitted.
