Rohini Salian, Special Public Prosecutor in 2008 Malegaon blasts case, speaks to NDTV
Rohini Salian, the Special Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon blasts case of 2008, created shockwaves when she alleged that she was asked to go soft in the case once the NDA government came to power.
The blasts, which took place in the Muslim-dominated town of Malegaon in North Maharashtra, is being probed by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) which has accused Hindutva extremists for carrying out the explosions.
The NIA has denied any such message being given to her; she told NDTV that she swears by what she said, and if required, she can prove it. "The order to go soft came in May-June 2014," she said. All the NIA officer told her was the orders came from above.
But she made an equally shocking revelation, alleging that there was an attempt to sabotage the case in the Supreme Court, where the accused asked for Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) to be dropped against them, making them eligible for bail.
She says that in January this this year, when Maharashtra's senior counsel Mariar Puttam got up to argue for retaining of MCOCA, he was prevented by Anil Singh, the Central Government's Additional Solicitor General, based in Maharashtra. Mr Singh said he, not Mr Puttam will argue for Maharashtra.
Mrs Salian said, "Anil Singh had never appeared before, nor does not he know the facts of the case."
The next day, she says Union Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also stopped Mr Puttam from arguing for the NIA. When Mr Puttam then began to argue for Maharashtra, she said "Anil Singh said there is no need, as I have already done it." Mr Puttam could finally argue only after the intervention of the Supreme Court.
"As a result of what happened to Mariar Puttam, we couldn't satisfactorily argue our case," said Ms Salian.
The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favour of the accused, saying there was not enough evidence to merit the use of MCOCA against them.
Ms Salian says its clear reading between the lines why this is going on.
In a statement, Tushar Mehta told NDTV, "Nobody was prevented from arguing in this case. All of them argued at length. The arguments are recorded in the Judgement."