A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court has issued a warrant to attach the property of Ramchandra Gopalsingh Kalsangra, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case who is currently on the run.
The “warrant of attachment” was issued by Special Judge AK Lahoti while noting that Kalsangra’s presence could not be secured despite the issuance of a warrant and a proclamation order.
In his order, Judge Lahoti said his predecessor had issued a warrant against Kalsangra, but it could not be executed as the latter had absconded.
Thereafter, the order of issue of proclamation was passed but the accused failed to present himself before the court.
“Therefore, as per Section 83 (of the Code of Criminal Procedure), the warrant of attachment is issued by this court to attach the property of absconding accused Ramchandra Gopalsingh Kalsangra,” the judge said.
According to the NIA, the property ordered to be attached is in Madhya Pradesh.
The NIA had named Kalsangra and another person, Sandeep Dange, as accused in the case. While a warrant was issued against Dange as well, the probe agency had submitted that there was no known property belonging to him and hence an attachment warrant was not sought.
The probe agency claimed that Kalsangra had planted a bomb on an LML Freedom two-wheeler belonging to Bhopal BJP MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, an accused in the case. He was accompanied by Dange.
The BJP MP had stated that when she became a sadhvi, she had given away all her worldly belongings, which included the two-wheeler. She had claimed she gave the vehicle to Kalsangra.
Six people were killed and over 100 others injured when explosives strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008.
The case was initially probed by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) before it was transferred to the NIA in 2011.
According to the probe agency, Kalsangra was part of the blast conspiracy and knew Sadhvi Pragya Thakur well.
The BJP MP, along with six other accused people, are facing trial in the case under provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Kalsangra is also wanted in the 2006 Malegaon blast case and 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case.