A special court that deals with cases related to the National Investigation Agency has rejected the bail petition filed by Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in connection with the 2008 Malegaon blasts case that left four people dead and more that 79 others injured, reported ANI.

Special Judge Shripad Tekale passed the verdict against the accused even though the probe agency had given her a clean chit, citing lack of evidence. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, which was investigating the case before the NIA took over in 2011, had said Thakur owned the motorcycle in which the explosives were planted. They had also said that she was present at meetings at which the blasts were planned. However, the witnesses who had corroborated the charges later changed their statements.

On March 13, the NIA had filed a chargesheet and dropped all charges against Thakur and five other accused in the case. The agency also said the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act was not applicable in this case. The Malegaon blasts were one of the first widely-reported incidents of terrorism led by a right-wing Hindu organisation.