Madhya Pradesh EC takes cognisance of BJP Bhopal candidate Sadhvi Pragya's remarks on 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare, begins inquiry

The Madhya Pradesh Chief Election Officer (CEO) on Friday took cognisance of a complaint that was made against BJP Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Sadhvi Pragya Thakur for her comments on 26/11 martyr and former Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad chief Hemant Karkare. An inquiry into the matter is underway.

Speaking in Bhopal, Sadhvi Pragya had accused Hemant Karkare of holding her in custody illegally. She had also added that he had tried to fabricate the evidence against her and said he had died as a result of her 'curse'.

READ | Controversial: Sadhvi Pragya Targets 26/11 Martyr Hemant Karkare, Says He Died Due To Her 'annihilation' Curse After He Questioned Her In The Malegaon Blasts Case

The Mumbai ATS chief had questioned her in custody during the investigation into the 2008 Malegaon Blasts case in which she is a key accused.

"The officer appointed by the Security Council for investigating the case (Malegaon blasts) was Hemant Karkare. He (Karkare) was told that 'if you don't have any evidence against her, then leave Sadhvi'. It is against the law to hold a person without evidence. He had told that I will do anything and get evidence from anywhere, but will not spare Sadhvi. This was his craftiness. This was treason. It was against duty," Thakur had said.

The IPS Association issued a tweet condemning the remarks made by BJP Bhopal Lok Sabha polls candidate regarding Karkare and demanded that all the sacrifices made by the martyrs while fighting against the terrorists must be respected.

The association in its tweet has not named anyone in particular, however, it is clear that the statement is in reference to what Sadhvi Pragya Thakur had said about him on Friday.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi also defended Karkare and took to Twitter to attack Thakur:

Owaisi had also remarked on Sadhvi Pragya's 'the election is a Dharamyudh (religious battle)' statement saying: ‘they make a question of dharma/Astha as if that’s what’ll create jobs’.