CBI to takeover probe of Malegaon blasts as ATS files chargesheet

Mumbai, Dec 21 (UNI) The Maharashtra Government today decided to hand over the investigations into Nanded and Malegaon bomb blasts case to the CBI.

The decision coincided with the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of Mumbai police filing chargesheet in the September 8 Malegaon bomb against nine arrested accused in a MCOCA court here.

The decision to hand over the Malegaon blasts probe to the CBI was taken in view of the assurance given by government in the State Assembly during winter session which concluded recently at Nagpur, Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who holds the Home portfolio, told mediapersons today at Mantralaya - the State civil secretariat.

The 2800-page chargesheet was filed in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court of M R Bhatkar.

MLAs of the ruling combine of Congress and Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) and various Muslim organisations had demanded a CBI probe into the Malegaon blasts.

Thirty-one people were killed and 312 wounded when three bombs exploded near the Hamidiya Masjid, Bada Kabrastan and at Mushawarat chowk on the holy Friday of Shab-e-Baraat in the predominantly Muslim town of Malegaon on September 8.

The blast in Nanded on April 5 at Patbandhare Nagar claimed two people, allegedly Bajrang Dal activists. Police had also recovered crude bombs and materials used for mixing of explosives from the blast site.

The Bhagyanagar police had arrested 16 people and were preparing to file chargesheet against 12 of them.

UNI MR-PVN SA YA KP2223