Key conspirator becomes approver in Malegaon blast

Mumbai, Dec 22 (UNI) The Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court Judge Mridula Bhatkar today granted permission to the key conspirator in the Malegaon blast case to become an approver.

Advocate Kamlesh Ghumre, representing 32-year-old Abrar Ahmed Ghulam Ahmed moved an application before Judge Bhatkar stating that his client wanted to become 'approver' in the case and he should be pardoned.

After going through all the investigating reports, submitted by the ATS (Anti-Terrorist Squad), Ms Bhatkar granted him the permission to become an approver.

As the order on the application was being given, Mr Ghumre brought to notice of the court that one of the accused in Malegaon Blast case had given threats to Ahmed and hence he prayed to the court that his client should be kept in Thane prison as a safety measure. The court directed the jail authorities to keep him in a separate cell and provide him security.

Mr Ghumre said his client had attended all the meeting of the conspirators prior to the blast and he was aware about planting an explosive in Malegaon.

In the Malegaon blasts, ATS sleuths had arrested nine accused, including the just-turned approver. The officials has filed a chargesheet against seven people in the case yesterday.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil yesterday announced that Government had decided to hand over the Malegaon and Nanded blast cases to the CBI.

Three blasts occurred on September 8 this year in and around a mosque at Malegaon in Nasik district, killing 31 people and injuring more than 300 others.

The Nanded blast took place on April five this year, in which two people, allegedly Bajrang Dal activists, were killed. Police had recovered crude bombs and other material used for mixing of explosives from the site.

The local police had arrested 16 people in this connection and are in the process of filing chargesheets against the 12 accused.

UNI ST OBB KD KN1942