A plea has been filed before the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court opposing Sadhvi Pragya’s candidature to contest from Bhopal seat from BJP.

The plea has been filed by father of Sayyed Azhar Nisar Ahmed, who died in 2008 Malegoan Blasts case. The father Nisar Ahmed Sayyed Bilal said in the plea which was filed on Thursday: “Pragya should be barred from contesting from parliamentary seat as she is facing trial in terrorist attack case. And a plea challenging her bail is pending before the Supreme Court.”

Special NIA cases judge V S Padalkar sought responses from both Pragya and NIA and posted the matter for Monday.

On Thursday also, her candidature was challenged by Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla. Poonawalla moved the Election Commission (EC) challenging her candidature on the same ground that she should not be allowed to contest elections as she is facing terror charges.

Pragya is facing trial in the 2008 Malegoan Blasts case in which six people died. She is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The law states that any citizen who is above 25 years of age can contest elections unless found guilty for any crime, which involves sentence for two years or more.

—India Legal Bureau