Mumbai court extends Bhatkal, Akhtar's police custody

, Feb 18: A special court here on Tuesday extended, till Feb 28, police custody of Indian Mujahiddeen co-founder

and his associate Asadullah Akhtar in connection with the July 13, 2011 Mumbai triple blasts case.

Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) special judge A. L. Pansare rejected a plea by Bhatkal's state-appointed lawyer V. B. More for giving judicial custody to the accused.

Earlier, the accused duo was granted police custody till Feb 18 by MCOCA special judge Y.D. Shinde.

Since Shinde was on leave, the accused were produced before Pansare.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam urged the court that since their interrogation is being conducted on day-to-day basis, their police custody was required.

Nikam told the court that the accused were actively involved in assembling the explosives used in the blasts which killed 27 and injured over 125 others in crowded areas of Dadar, Opera House and Zaveri Bazar.

Moreover, he argued that the investigation report is of a sensitive nature and not even the defence lawyers are allowed to see it.

Hence, further police custody was needed to get to know their future plans, the names and role of other accused, details of absconding accused as well to find out details of the hidden explosives, he argued.

To a plea by the defence lawyers, Pansare permitted the handcuffs of the accused to be removed while in court as also the veil on their faces.

Last time, they were brought to the court in chains and handcuffs as the prosecution was apprehensive that they could flee while being ferried to and from the special court in the Arthur Road Central Jail.

Both Bhatkal, 31, and Akhtar, 27, were arrested on Aug 29 last year by Delhi Police. They were flown to Mumbai on Feb 5 for the court hearing.

Bhatkal, who has no lawyer, has been extended state legal aid, while Akhtar is being represented by lawyers of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind's Maharashtra unit.

The two are also accused of involvement in three other cases in Pune.

While Bhatkal is an accused in Feb 13, 2010 German Bakery blast and the unsuccessful Dagdusheth Halwai Temple attack conspiracy case, Akhtar is booked for the 2012 Jungli Maharaj Road low-intensity serial blasts.

IANS