Terror blast convict gets bail in 2012 VHP activist murder bid

THANE: The district sessions court on Friday granted bail to Saquib Nachan, former secretary of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), in a case of attempt to murder VHP activist Manoj Raicha of Bhiwandi in 2012.
Nachan, however, cannot walk out of jail as he is serving jail term in the 2002-03 blasts in Mumbai Central and Mulund. Nachan and nine others were convicted in the blasts case by a special POTA court in April 6.
He has been in jail for more than eight years.
Nachan had applied for a bail in the attempt to murder case after the Thane police failed to file a chargesheet within 90 days of arresting him in 2012 under the Maharashtra Control Organized Crime Act. The police had moved an application seeking more time. However, the special MCOCA court rejected the plea. The police later approached the Bombay high court, which stayed the trial court order in July 2013.
Nachan challenged the HC order in the Supreme Court. The apex court recently quashed the HC order. In the Supreme Court, Justice AK Sikri allowed Nachan to file a bail application before the trial court in Thane.
Granting him bail, district session judge AS Bhaisare said stringent conditions need to be imposed considering the facts and circumstances of the case and past antecedent of the applicant. Bhaisare directed Nachan to be released on bail on a bond of Rs 1 lakh and solvent surety of like amount.
The judge said Nachan should not tamper with the evidence or commit any other or further offence and must maintain peace in society. Nachan will have to visit the police station on every Monday between 3 and 5 pm. He should not leave Thane district and surrender his passport to the court.