I was forced to undergo scientific tests: Sadhvi Pragya

NASHIK: Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, arrested in the connection with the Malegaon blast case, on Monday alleged that the ATS had forced her to undergo scientific tests after detaining her "illegally".

She said she was forced to undergo scientific tests like brain mapping and narco tests while she was illegally detained in Mumbai between October 10 and 23, her lawyer Ganesh Sovani said.

In an affidavit filed before a Nashik Magistrate's court by Sovani, Thakur said she was called to Surat by a Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad official on October 7 while she was in Jabalpur in connection with a motorcycle she owned.

She said she was received by a disciple in Surat following which she met the ATS official who informed her the motorcycle she owned had been used in the September 29 Malegaon blast.

The sadhvi said she informed the officer about having sold the vehicle in 2004 to one Sunil Joshi but she was asked to go to the ATS office in Mumbai for further interrogation.

The ATS official took her and her disciple from Surat, one Bhimbhai Pasricha, on October 10 to the investigating agency's office in central Mumbai where she was interrogated for two days, Thakur claimed.

She alleged that she was beaten by an ATS official on October 12 and her disciple was also forced to beat her.
ATS officials took her to a hotel in south Mumbai on October 15 and was forced to call a disciple and say that she was well, Thakur alleged.

Due to her health deteriorating, Thakur was allegedly taken to two hospitals for treatment, the affidavit said.