Malegaon blasts: ATS detains Retd Col

New Delhi, Nov 1: The Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has detained Bhonsala Military School Principal Colonel (Retd) SS Raikar has been detained for questioning of the Malegaon blast case. The squad is also investigating the role of serving Indian Army officer Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit in the blast case but the Army wants evidence against before taking action against the officer.
Lt Col Purohit, of the Army Education Corps, has been allowed to be taken by the ATS by Army headquarters to Mumbai from Panchmarhi where he was posted. The ATS is believed to have already questioned Purohit in the presence of a legal representative of the Army and a magistrate.

Lt Col Purohit was reportedly in touch with another Malegaon blasts accused, retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay. Investigators claim they have decoded SMSes exchanged between the two.

The issue of serving and retired Armymen being involved in Malegaon blast was also discussed at the Army commanders conference in New Delhi.

The Army top brass is reportedly of the opinion that the alleged involvement of Lt Col Purohit in terror acts was an aberration but one that did warrant caution.

Police say the Malegaon blast accused sadhvi (female saint) Pragya Singh Thakur, Major (retd) Ramesh Upadhyay and Lt Col Purohit had met three others in the school premises on September 16 and discussed the plans to carry out the blast.

OneIndia News