No Evidence of Pragya Thakur Being Tortured: Former Prosecutor

“Two courts found no evidence of her being tortured,” the former public prosecutor in the Malegaon blasts case said.

Pragya Thakur, who was accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, has stirred up quite a storm with her remarks about 26/11 hero cop Hemant Karkare.

(Photo: PTI)

A former public prosecutor in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case said that two courts found absolutely no evidence of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur being tortured or detained illegally in the case.

Former public prosecutor Rohini Salian, according to an NDTV report, slammed the BJP politician and terror-accused for claiming that she was tortured during the Malegaon blasts investigation led by 26/11 hero cop Hemant Karkare, over her alleged involvement in the blasts.

Thakur has repeatedly accused the police of torturing her while she was in their custody during the Malegaon blasts investigation. In an NDTV report, Salian, who was the public prosecutor in the case till 2015, refuted Pragya Thakur’s claims, stating that neither a trial court, nor the high court had found any evidence of Thakur having been tortured.

‘Never Come Across Anyone Dying After Being Cursed by a Sadhvi’

Pragya had triggered widespread outrage after she claimed that Hemant Karkare had died in the 26/11 attacks because of she had cursed him.

“I have never come across a man dying after being cursed by a sadhvi. I feel she is doing this for publicity as she is contesting the polls. Statements like this are unwanted and atrocious.”

Rohini Salian, Former Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon Blasts Case

Addressing a rally, the newly appointed BJP leader had said:

“Karkare was told that if there is no evidence against me, it is illegal to keep me in jail. He (Karkare) said that he will do anything, get evidence from somewhere, but not release me. This was his kuteelta (cunningness). I had told him that you will be destroyed. There is sutak (mourning period) in 1.25 months. Exactly after 1.25 months, when terrorists killed him, the sutak ended,” she said.

Thakur’s remarks have led to a police complaint against her, apart from the Election Commission sending a notice to her asking why action should not be taken against her for breaching the code of conduct.

‘Can’t Tolerate Heroic Police Officers Being Maligned’

Salian, who said she was the last person to meet Hemant Karkare on the day of the terror attacks said, “I’m speaking up now for one purpose only. I can’t put up with heroic police officers being maligned.”

She also rubbished the BJP’s allegation that Pragya Thakur had been “framed” by the previous Congress government.

“There’s evidence to show that both the accused were last seen with Pragya Thakur in Bhopal. Her scooter was in the same compound, and it was used at the blast sites also.”

Rohini Salian, Former Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon Blasts Case

Salian had been the public prosecutor in the Malegaon blasts case till 2015, when she excused herself from it, because of the National Investigation Agency pressuring her to “go easy on it”, she said in the NDTV report.

“I was free to carry out my legal duties till then. It became difficult working under those circumstances.”

Rohini Salian, Former Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon Blasts Case

(With inputs from NDTV)