Mumbai blasts accused held in London

NEW DELHI: The investigations into the July 11, 2006, Mumbai serial blasts on Tuesday looked set to get a big push with the detention of a prime suspect, who���s alleged to have funded the operation, by the Interpol in London.

Raheel Sheikh, one of the key accused in serial train blasts, was detained by the British Interpol on Tuesday. He is one of the alleged masterminds of the conspiracy and was involved in the funding of the bombings that killed 200 and wounded another 700.

The Interpol action came in response to a request from the Mumbai ATS, which had supplied relevant details to the international agency. A Red Corner notice was subsequently issued against Raheel Sheikh.

There are two ways available with India to seek his custody. First, by initiating extradition procedures, in which a request is sent through diplomatic channels. The matter is finally decided in a court. The other way is to seek his deportation, which is an executive decision.

Raheel Sheikh is supposed to have strong links with the Pakistan-based jihadi outfit, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), where he was supposedly involved in imparting training to new recruits.

Seven deadly blasts occurred in Mumbai local trains on July 11, 2006, that were caused by RDX and Ammonium Nitrate packed in pressure cookers. The ATS had alleged that Pakistan���s ISI had a direct role in the planning and execution of the terror act.

The ATS had set up a separate team to investigate the alleged LeT operative���s involvement in the blast. He was also wanted in the serial blasts that rocked Delhi on the eve of Diwali in October, 2005. Raheel Sheikh was cornered in Mumbai, but managed to escape. A crime branch team, however, stumbled upon his name while interrogating Pune-based ex-Simi activist Feroz Deshmukh.

He revealed that Raheel Sheikh had taken a loan of Rs 15,000 in May, 2006, and promised him that a certain Noman would return it to him. The trail led to Noman who confirmed that he was supposed to collect the same amount from Faisal Sheikh.

While the police couldn���t get Raheel Sheikh it managed to nab Faisal Sheikh, who���s alleged to be closely associated with Azam Cheema, on July 27 from Mumbai. All the 16 accused arrested so far by the Mumbai ATS have been booked under Mcoca.