Framed in Malegaon blast case to justify 'Hindu terror theory', claims accused

Representational Image. File Pic

Ramesh Upadhyay, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, on Tuesday claimed that he was implicated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) due to the then United Progressive Alliance government's pressure to "justify their Hindu terror theory". In his statement submitted before the special NIA court here, he claimed he was innocent and had nothing to do with the blast, reported news agency PTI.

"I am an innocent accused, falsely framed in this case by the Anti Terrorism Squad, Mumbai, due to political pressure exerted upon them by the UPA governments at the Centre & the state to somehow justify their Hindu terror theory," the statement said. The ATS not only tortured him physically, but also harassed him mentally in "illegal custody", it said, reported PTI.

"Psychological pressure was also mounted upon me by threatening my house owner as to why he was sheltering a terrorist by renting out his bungalow. I was threatened that my wife will be paraded naked, my unmarried daughter would be raped, son's jaw would be broken," Upadhyay alleged.

When he refused to confess or implicate others, he was arrested on a Diwali night and produced before a judicial magistrate in Nashik, he claimed.
He showed torture marks on his body to the magistrate, agreed to cooperate with the investigation and also gave his consent for narco- analysis to prove his innocence, the statement said, reported PTI.

"Polygraph tests and narco analysis reports exonerated me of any involvement in this case. As they gave me a clean chit, ATS did not produce these reports in this court," the accused claimed. There was no evidence against him in the charge sheets or the statements of the witnesses, he said. "I have suffered immense pain physically, mentally, financially, socially and my family life has been ruined. The culprits who framed me in this false case should be proceeded against as per law. I further pray that I be honourably acquitted of all charges in the interest of justice," he added, reported PTI.

The trial of the case is in its last stages, and the special court for National Investigation Agency cases has been recording final statements of the accused under section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Under this provision, an accused can explain any circumstances related to the allegations against him or her.

Six people were killed and more than 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai in north Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008. The case was initially probed by Maharashtra ATS before being transferred to the NIA.

(With inputs from PTI)