New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has refuted allegations that it tried to put pressure on special public prosecutor Rohini Salian to go soft on 2008 Malegaon case accused.
According to a report published in Times of India, NIA has argued that Salian's accusation came at a time when the process of her de-notification was underway and thus her claims are smear against the agency.
Salian was about to be removed as special public prosecutor for failing to perform, it said.
According to NIA, the question of influencing Salian does not arise as special public prosecutor role comes only after a case is committed to trial.
It also said that routine affairs are handled by regular public prosecutors and the 2008 Malegaon case has as yet not reached the trial stage.
A senior NIA officer, according to this TOI report, however said that Salian had been leveling such charges since she was being de-notified as special public prosecutor.
NIA's clarification came in the wake of Salian's accusation that she was forced to go soft by the agency in the case especially since the NDA government came to power.
The 2008 Malegaon blast had claimed 8 lives during the Islamic holy month Ramadan in which Hindu extremist are the accused.
