Rohini Salian is a leading Indian public prosecutor in the sessions court. She has handled several important cases such as the Borivali double murders, diamond merchant and film financier Bharat Shah’s case, the J J shootout case, the Sara Sahara shopping complex case and the Ghatkopar and Mulund blast cases. Salian was initially an urban planner with the then Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority, and joined the legal profession in 1982.RohiniSalian, the Special Public Prosecutor in the Malegaon blasts case of 2008, created shockwaves when she alleged that she was asked to go soft in the case once the NDA government came to power.
Here are excerpts of the interview with our Editor-in-Chief Vaidehi Taman.
What did the NIA suddenly ask you to step down? Is there any procedure that needs to be followed to de-notify a lawyer in a particular case?
The reason is unknown. No intimation of de-notifying is so far communicated to me.
Was there any political pressure on you or just administrative pressure?
An officer of NIA communicated with me.
Would you like to disclose the name of NIA officer, who had come to meet you with another officer who waited outside?
No
What is the status of the case? And what were the chances of prosecution prior to interference by the govt.?
As per the Supreme Court Order delivered on 15th April, 2015, a Special NIA court should be constituted and trial should be expeditiously conducted.
Why has the Malegaon Blast case not reached to the trial stage even though so many years have passed?
The accused had challenged the Order of the Hon’ble High Court restoring the Charges under the MCOC Act, 1999 and all the records and proceedings of the case were called by the Hon’ble Supreme Court from the trial Special Court.
As a public prosecutor is it the only case in Indian history which has been delayed for trial or there are many other cases too?
This is not the sole case there are several cases which have delayed for trial mostly because of the Order of the stay of the trial obtained by the accused.
Why no charge sheet has been filed against SadhviPragya Singh Thakur? Why is she imprisoned despite her poor health?
The Chargesheet against Pragya Singh Thakur and 11 others were filed by the ATS in the year 2009. She had filed bail applications in the Spl. Court as well as in the Hon’ble High Court, both came to be rejected on merits. Her application for bail on medical grounds was withdrawn by her in the Hon’ble High Court of Bombay. Apparentlyfrom the Medical reports she is not seriously ill.
Netizens would like to ask why Rohini Salian never questioned the delay in filing charge sheet.
The reply above is self –explanatory. After NIA took over the investigation in 2011, no additional material is filed against any of the arrested accused and also the three accused arrested by the investigating agency.
Why was the proceedings of the case going at a slow paced manner all these years, even before the NDA came to power? What’s the point in going soft now?
The accused had challenged the Order of the Hon’ble High Court restoring the Charges under the MCOC Act, 1999 and all the records and proceedings of the case were called by the Hon’ble Supreme Court from the trial Special Court.
The Supreme Court has dropped MCOCA charges against Malegaon blast accused?
No. Please read the Judgement dated 15th April, 2015 delivered by the Supreme Court.
MCOCA or no MCOCA can you deny that SadhviPragya Singh’s bike was used in the 2008 Malegaon blast?
Records in the chargesheet reveal that Sadhvi’s bike was used in the blast.
Why is there so much suspicion about the death of Hemant Karkare?
No comments.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is accused in the murder of RSS worker Sunil Joshi and in Malegaon Blasts? Both the trials are stalled?
Sunil Joshi Murdercase is pending in Madhya Pradesh.
Suppose if the trial begins, do you have enough evidences to present? What is the strength of this case?
Prima facie there is enough evidence.
As a public prosecutor how many blast or terror cases have you handled before? How many of them got favourable results?
I have conducted Ghatkopar blast case which resulted in acquittal. The appeal against the Order is pending in the Hon’ble High Court. Presently the trial of Mulund Blast, Ville Parle and Mumbai Central are going on in the POTA court.
One last question, is your protest politically motivated?
Not at all.
