Accused in the 2008 Malegon blasts- Sadhvi Pagya, Lt Col Purohit along with two others have been discharged from all cases under the MCOCA

In a latest in the 2008 Malegaon blast case proceedings, the four accused - Sadhvi Pragya, (retd) Major Ramesh Upadhyay , Ajay Rahikar and Lt Col Purohit have been discharged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and Sections 17, 20 and 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Arms act.

The four were cleared of all charges under the acts in the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai today. But Sadhvi Pragya and Lt Col Purohit will still be tried under Sections 120 B, 302, 307, 304, 326 , 427 153 A of IPC, along with Section 18 (conspiracy) of UAPA.

Moreover, as most of the accused are out on bail, all previous bonds and sureties will continue according to the special NIA court's directive.

In addition, three other accused, Praveen Takalki, Shyamlal Sahu and Shivnarayan Kalsangra have been entirely discharged from case - with no objection from the NIA.

The next date of hearing in the special NIA court has now been set for January 15.

'SADHVI CANNOT BE EXONERATED'

The NIA court in its order observed that the prime accused Sadhvi Pragya cannot be exonerated of conspiracy charges as she was well aware about the motorcycle being used for the attack.

At least seven people were killed and nearly 100 injured when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded in Malegaon in Nashik district on September 29, 2008. The Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) in its report had accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur of giving her bike to the absconding accused Ramji Kalsangra to be used to store RDX.

According to investigating agencies, the Malegaon blast was allegedly carried out by Abhinav Bharat, a right-wing group .