Bombay HC allows Sadhvi Pragya to convert her bail petition into appeal.

December 12, 2013

Margashirsha Shuklapaksha 09,Kaliyug Varsha 5115

In keeping with a Supreme Court order, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday allowed Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bomb blast case, to convert her bail petition into an appeal.

Sadhvi Pragya has sought bail on the ground that she is suffering from spondylitis and other ailments for which hospitalisation is needed.

Thakur had earlier filed a bail petition, which was heard by a single judge and order was to be pronounced.

But in the meanwhile Supreme Court held that all the matters arising out of investigation by National Investigation Agency (NIA) should be treated by the High Courts as appeals and should be heard by a division bench.

The Apex Court gave this ruling on NIA’s plea challenging two bail orders — one by Bombay High Court and another by Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Supreme Court, on September 13, said in all the matters in which bail is granted or rejected by a Special NIA Court, the aggrieved party can challenge it the form of a Criminal Appeal. Accordingly, division bench headed by Justice PV Hardas on Wednesday allowed Thakur to amend her petition.

The division bench would hear the appeal (bail plea) next week, said her lawyer Ganesh Sovani.

Source : Niti central