Sadhvi Pragya files plea on train travel in MCOCA court

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, accused in the Malegaon blast case, has filed an application in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act court.

Thakur has requested the court to direct the probe team, which is scheduled to take her to Bhopal in connection with the murder case of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh activist Sunil Joshi, to let her travel in an air-conditioned compartment.

Sunil Joshi's name had cropped up during the investigation of the Malegaon blasts case. The case is being probed by the National Investigation Agency and it falls under the jurisdiction of the Bhopal court.

On November 24, when Sadhvi Pragya's brother-in-law Bhagawan Bhai had gone to the Byculla District Prison to serve her food,  he came to know that she would be taken to Bhopal by the Punjab Mail

In her application, Sadhvi Pragya has pointed out that she suffers from acute lumber spondylitis and urged the jail authorities not to make her travel to Bhopal unless she was taken by an a/c coach.

By traveling in an a/c coach, she will be able to undertake the arduous journey with minimum physical strain, said Sadhvi Pragya.

The NIA team had decided to take her to Bhopal in a second class general compartment since they could not get tickets for an A/C compartment.

Sadhvi Pragya has stated that she is ready to bear the expenses of traveling in an a/c compartment and urged the court to issue a directive to the authorities over this issue.

She also stated that she should not be forced to undertake such a tedious journey against her wishes.

"It is the duty of the State to look after my well-being and ensure a safe and secure travel and hence the authorities be directed to ensure the same," she stated in her application.