Mumbai:
Nine accused arrested in 2006 in connection with the Malegaon blasts case have been granted bail by a special court in Mumbai. This after the National Investigation Agency or the NIA formally told the court today that it does not oppose their bail.
In 2006, the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested nine Muslim men - Noor ul Huda Shamshudioha Ansari, Shabbir Ahmed Masiullah, Raees Ahmed, Dr Salman Farsi, Dr Farukh Maghdumi, Mohammed Ali, Mohammed Zahid, Asif Bashir Khan and Abrar Ahmed Saeed - and claimed they were members of the banned organisation Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). In its chargesheet, it stated that the accused wanted to continue unlawful activities within the state of Maharashtra to overthrow the government by causing communal riots.
After public outcry, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the case. Its initial chargesheet toed the ATS line, but after Swami Aseemanand's confession pointed to the involvement of right wing groups, the agency was forced to reinvestigate the case.
In April this year, the CBI submitted a report to the NIA stating that the nine arrested men were innocent. The CBI report also said only right-wing activists arrested last year should be probed for the blasts.
The nine young men, who have spent five years in jail, will now walk free. But for the families of the victims of these blasts, it will still be long wait.
At least 31 people were injured and over 300 were injured in the 2006 Malegaon blasts.