The Bombay High Court today granted bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in 2008 Malegaon blast case but rejected a similar bail plea of Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit. <br/><br/>The High Court granted bail to the Sadhvi on three terms, a personal bail bond of 5 lakh rupees, she should not influence the witnesses and tamper with the evidence, and that she should submit her passport to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Sadhvi's counsel argued that although NIA court had rejected her bail plea last year, it had dropped all charges against her in its charge sheet.<br/><br/>"Welcoming the court decision, Sadhvi's counsel said the case was politically fabricated and justice has been done. Now Sadhvi Pragya will be released from jail. He also added that the restrictions imposed by the court would be adhered to. <br/><br/>Earlier, the NIA had informed the HC that it had no objection if Sadhvi was granted bail as the provisions of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) were not applicable in Sadhvi's case. <br/><br/>NIA also claimed that the ATS probe was faulty as many witnesses had retracted from their statements. The NIA however held charges against Col. Purohit under sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Explosives Substance Act and Arms Act. The 2008 Malegaon blast had killed seven people and injured 101 persons.

The Bombay High Court today granted bail to Sadhvi Pragya Singh Takhur but denied any relief to co-accused former Lt Col Prasad Purohit in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. <br/><br/>A division bench of Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar Joshi said the appeal filed by Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is allowed. The applicant (Sadhvi) is directed to be released on bail on a surety of 5 lakh rupees. <br/><br/>The court said the appeal filed by Prasad Purohit stands dismissed. The bench directed Sadhvi Pragya to surrender her passport to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). <br/><br/>It also directed her not to tamper with the evidence and to report to NIA court as and when required.The court was hearing the appeals filed by Sadhvi Pragya and Purohit challenging an earlier order of a special court rejecting their bail pleas.<br/><br/>Sadhvi Pragya and Purohit are accused of involvement in Malegaon bomb blast case in which eight persons were killed and nearly 80 others were injured when a bomb strapped to a motorcycle had exploded in Malegaon on September 29, 2008. Both were arrested in 2008 and are in jail since then.