Mumbai, July 19 (IANS) In a significant development, the Bombay High Court Monday restored proceedings under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) on all 11 accused, including Sadhvi Pragya, in the Sep 29, 2008 Malegaon bomb blast.
A division bench comprising Justice B.H. Marlapalle and Justice A.V. Mohta set aside an order of a lower court of July 31, 2009, dropping charges under the MCOCA on the accused.
The high court upheld the contention of the state government, which went in appeal against the lower court's order, that MCOCA should be made applicable on the 11 accused in the terror case. Six people were killed and at least 20 injured in the blast.
"All the accused are currently in custody in different jails in the state and shall be brought to Mumbai for trial under MCOCA July 23," Sadhvi's lawyer Ganesh Sovani told IANS.