Sadhvi Pragya being shifted to Mumbai

Prime accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, developed chest pain while being taken to Mumbai on Thursday, sources said.

She was being shifted from Nashik Ayurvedic Hospital to JJ Hospital in Mumbai following a court order. However, she developed chest pain after starting for Mumbai at around 1.30 pm, her lawyer Umesh Walzade told PTI.

She was taken to Igatpuri rural hospital and after primary treatment she resumed her journey, he said. A special MCOCA court on Friday had directed the jail authorities to shift sadhvi Pragya from Nashik to J J Hospital in Mumbai.

The sadhvi has been undergoing treatment for a tumour at the Nashik hospital since July last year. The other accused in the case were brought to Mumbai and lodged in Taloja prison, after the Bombay High Court set aside the special court orderdropping MCOCA charges. The sadhvi had sought permission to be lodged at Nashik prison.

Special public prosecutor Rohini Salian had argued this was a tactic of the sadhvi to remain in Nashik and delay the trial.

Special Judge Y D Shinde directed that the sadhvi be shifted to Mumbai and administered medical treatment at J J Hospital.