Malegaon-accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh had recently accused the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), probing the Malegaon, of custodial torture and abuse.

The special court trying the Malegaon blast case today ordered Maharashtra to respond to allegations of torture levelled by sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, army officer Prasad Purohit and five other suspects. Special judge Y. D. Shinde asked the state government to file a detailed replays early as possible.

Pragya had told the court yesterday that anti-terrorist squad officials compelled her to listen to an obscene CD and threatened to strip her.

However the Anti-Terror Squad refuted these allegations. But their reaction might have come a bit too late because following Sadhvi's allegations, charges of torture have shot up and MCOCA court sent the accused to judicial custody - not heard of in a MCOCA trial. It is even expected to order an inquiry into the torture charges.