Pragya Thakur cites illness to skip court appearance, but attends event soon after

Bharatiya Janata Party MP and Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur sought exemption from appearing in a trial court in Mumbai on Thursday, June 6, citing illness. However, at noon on the same day, she attended an event in Bhopal to garland a statue of Maharana Pratap on his birth anniversary.

Indian Express reports that on Wednesday evening (June 5), Thakur visited the home of Qazi Syed Mushtaq Ali Nadvi in Bhopal on the occasion of Eid. She was subsequently admitted to Care Hospital and discharged on Thursday morning. Thakur was meant to appear in court on Thursday, the court having rejected her plea to exempt her from appearing in court from June 3 to June 7. She then sought exemption from appearing on Thursday.

Indian Express reports: “In her plea, Thakur said that following the court’s order on June 3 directing her to remain present this week, she was to appear before the court Thursday but has been hospitalised. She said she will ‘try’ coming to court Friday.”

The report noted that she said she had been hospitalised for “high blood pressure and related ailments” but “no medical documents were submitted along with her plea stating that she has been hospitalised”. According to India Today, Justice VS Padalkar, while granting the exemption for Thursday, said Thakur would “face consequences” if she wasn’t present on Friday.