CBI takes over investigation of Malegaon blasts

Mumbai, Feb 18 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the investigation of the Malegaon blasts case in which 31 persons were killed and 300 others injured on September 8 last year.

Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare informed the Maharashtra Control for Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court of Mridula Bhatkar yesterday that after having gathered details from Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), the agency which initially investigated the matter, the CBI had filed its own First Information Report (FIR) against all nine accused persons for their alleged involvement in the blasts.

The CBI has submitted a letter in the MCOCA court stating that it was going to take over the investigation of the case, after obtaining all details of the probe conducted by the ATS.

The ATS had filed a 2,200 page chargesheet on December 22 last year against the nine accused in the Special Court. However, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil had announced the transfer of the case to CBI for re-investigation following pressure from political parties.

The ATS had stated in the chargesheet that the bombs were assembled by two Pakistanis, who stayed in Mumbai and Malegaon for over one-and-half months. One of them was identified as Muazammil.

Four bombs planted in the powerloom township exploded on September 8. The day happened to be Shab-e-Baraat, considered auspicious among Muslims, when they assemble to pay respects to their dead relations.

The explosions injured 319 people. Police said 20 kg RDX was smuggled to Malegaon and around five kg was used to make six bombs.

The chargesheet has been filed against Mohammed Zahid Majid, Salman Faisa Abdul Latif Aimi, Faruq Iqbal Ahmed Majdumi, Sheikh Mohammed Alim Alam Shaikh, Asif Khan Basir Khan, Noorul Huda Samshudoha, Shabir Ahmed Masiullah and Rais Ahmed Razaq Mansuri.

UNI