By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: The Army has decided to initiate its own inquiry against Lt. Col. Prasad Purohit, the prime accused in the September 2008 Malegaon blast case. The Army is likely to approach the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act in Mumbai, seeking Purohit’s custody.
The Army wants to “investigate the involvement of Purohit in the case and also on how he abused his position as a serving officer with the army,” Special Public prosecutor Rohini Salian has been quoted as saying.
The army inquiry will be conducted by a Brigadier-level officer. Media reports say the inquiry will include deposition of witnesses and some of Purohit’s former associates. If Purohit is found guilty in the inquiry, the Army may institute a court-martial which will decide the punishment.
Purohit was arrested the Maharashtra ATS on November 5. The chargesheet filed in the Malegaon blast case against the 11 accused including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Purohit was a founder of the group Abhinav Bharat that was formed in February 2007 to propagate a separate Hindu Rashtra and raised funds to the tune of Rs 21,00,000 – all against the rules of the armed forces. Police alleged that Purohit arranged meetings in Faridabad, Kolkata, Bhopal, Indore, Nashik, discussing plans to carry out blasts across the country.