Mumbai, April 22: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday discharged four men accused in the 2006 Malegaon serial bomb blasts, quashing all the charges against them, including of terror, and leaving unanswered the question of who was responsible for the explosions that killed 31 people.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Shyam Chandak allowed the appeals filed by four accused — Rajendra Chaudhary, Dhan Singh, Manohar Ram Singh Narwaria, and Lokesh Sharma — challenging the framing of charges by a special NIA court against them.
A detailed written order was expected to be released later.
The four were charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code for murder and criminal conspiracy, and also under the Unlawful (Activities) Prevention Act (UAPA), a stringent anti-terror law. On September 8, 2006, four bombs exploded in Nashik district’s Malegaon town in North Maharashtra, three inside the premises of Hamidia Masjid and Bada Kabrastan just after Friday prayers, and the fourth in Mushawarat Chowk, claiming 31 lives and injuring 312 persons. (PTI)
