Abdul Samad's family alleges he is being framed

Pune, May 26 (ANI): Family members of Abdul Samad Bhatkal, a key accused in the Pune blast case that left 16 persons as killed and over 60 others as injured, have expressed disbelief and shock over his arrest in the blast case.

Rehana Zarrar, Bhatkal's mother, claimed that her son is innocent and is being framed by the police.

"My son is totally innocent. He cannot do such a thing. He is just being framed," Zarrar said.

She said that Samad was very much present at his home in Bhatkal town near Mangalore city at the time of the blasts in February 2010.

"Our son is living in Bhatkal since the past one year. Before that he had gone to Bangalore for studies. He cleared his matriculation exams and went to college for one year and stayed in Bangalore for one or two years. But since the past one year he is here only with us. He has not gone anywhere; he stayed in front of my eyes," she added.

The police at Mangalore airport arrested Bhatkal, as he arrived from Dubai on Monday.

He was produced in a court in Mumbai city on Tuesday.

Bhatkal had moved to Dubai 12 days after the explosion and had returned on Monday after his visa expired.

Located in the posh neighbourhood of Koregaon Park, the German Bakery was rocked by a bomb blast on February 13 this year, killing 16 and injuring more than 60, in the country's first big attack since the 2008 Mumbai massacre. (ANI)