Malegaon blast case: ATS tightlipped

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra ATS probing the Malegaon blast case today remained tighlipped on whether a laptop of arrested army officer Prasad Purohit believed to be containing crucial information had been traced.

ATS officials said they would not comment on the issue as the laptop was a crucial part of the investigation. The information in the laptop is expected to throw further light on the conspiracy behind the blast that took place in the communally-sensitive town of Maharashtra on September 29 killing six persons, officials had said.

The laptop is said to contain names of 54 persons who are suspected to have undergone training in handling of arms and explosives at Bhonsala Military School in 2001.

Officials at the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory in the suburban Santacaruz denied reports that they had received a computer for analysis.

Purohit, a serving army officer, is among the 10 persons arrested for their alleged involvement in the Malegaon blast in which six were killed and about 80 injured.

Four persons including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, retired army official Ramesh Upadhyay, Abhinav Bharat member Sameer Kulkarni and Purohit have undergone scientific tests like brain mapping, polygraph and narco-analysis.

Eight persons are presently in judicial custody till Novemeber 17 and Purohit is in police custody till November 15.