NEW DELHI – Indian Army Colonel involved in terrorism case to bechargesheetd in Mumbai Court.

The trial court in Mumbai rejected the plea of Lt Col Prasad Purohit, anaccused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, seeking deferring of framing ofcharges against him until the Bombay High Court decides his application.

Special judge for National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases Vinod Padalkarscheduled the framing of charges, a process after which the trial starts,for September 5.

The framing of charges should be deferred because the high court was yet todecide his challenge to the sanction by the Maharashtra government toprosecute him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA),Purohit had said.

However, the court rejected his plea, said special public prosecutorAvinash Rasal.

The judge observed that there is no stay from the high court to the framingof charges, the prosecutor said.

On December 18, 2017, the Bombay High Court had refused to quash thesanction for Purohit’s prosecution.

Purohit then moved the Supreme Court, which asked him to move the highcourt again. His fresh plea is now pending before the high court.

Purohit being a serving Army officer, a prior sanction for his prosecutionwas required.

Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Home Department had granted thesanction on January 17, 2009.

Six people were killed and nearly 100 injured when a bomb strapped to amotorcycle went off at Malegaon, a town in Nashik district of Maharashtra,on September 29, 2008.