[Reader-list] Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya assaulted

[Aditya Raj Kaul]

Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya assaulted 21 Apr 2009, 2058 hrs
IST, IANS




   MUMBAI: Sadhvi Pragya, a prime accused in the Malegaon blasts case, was
assaulted by a fellow
inmate<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Malegaon-blast-Sadhvi-assaulted/articleshow/4431325.cms#>at
Byculla Jail and sustained injuries to
her face, nose and neck, she has said in a complaint filed in a court on
Tuesday.

Pragya's advocate G. Sovani said that he had moved an application before the
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)
court<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Malegaon-blast-Sadhvi-assaulted/articleshow/4431325.cms#>,
seeking to file a private complaint in the matter.

Additional Session Judge M.R. Puranik of the MCOCA court granted her plea.
She plans to file a complaint before the Mazagaon Metropolitan Court on
Wednesday.

According to Sovani, on March 26 Sadhvi Pragya had been admitted to the Sir
J.J. Hospital for treatment. After her discharge April 15, she was shifted
to the Byculla Jail<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Malegaon-blast-Sadhvi-assaulted/articleshow/4431325.cms#>.


The following day, an inmate in the jail, Mumtaz Sheikh, abused her in foul
language and even threatened to throw her out of the prison, Sovani claimed.


Mumtaz, detained under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities
Act, repeated her behaviour following which Sadhvi Pragya complained to the
jailor.

On Monday, while the inmates were proceeding for lunch, Mumtaz assaulted her
with a food bowl. Sovani said his client sustained minor injuries on the
face, nose and neck, compelling her to lodge an assault complaint.