Mumbai: The accused arrested in connection with Nalasopara Arms Haul case on Thursday filed a discharge application on the ground that the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) is not applicable to the case.

The special UAPA court was supposed to pronounce order on the bail applications filed by the accused in this case. However, the accused, through their lawyers, on Thursday requested the court to first hear and decide their discharge application.

It was contended on behalf of the accused that there is no ingredient involved in this case based on which provisions of UAPA could be imposed on them and hence they should be discharged from the case.

Special public prosecutor Raja Thakre opposed their plea contending that necessary procedure has been followed while imposing the Act and hence the applications filed by the accused seeking discharge should be rejected. After hearing the arguments the court reserved the order on discharge application.

On August 10, 2018, the ATS seized crude bombs and cache of arms and ammunition from Nalasopara. On investigating over a period of time, the police arrested 12 pe-rsons in the case and filed chargesheet against them.

Three of the arrested accused Sharad Kalaskar, former Shiv Sena corporator Shrikant Pa-ngarkar and Avinash Pawar filed bail applications before the court. They have contended that since investigation in the case is over they should be granted bail.