Mumbai blasts: Gujarat police to quiz Ahmedabad blasts' accused

AHMEDABAD: City crime branch, probing the 2008 Ahmedabad blasts, will interrogate Danish Riyaz, an accused in the case, with regard to last week's serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.

The investigating agency, in its remand application filed before a magistrate today, contended that Riyaz being an active member of banned outfit Indian Mujaheedin (IM) could provide some useful information on the attack.

Riyaz, who was arrested from Vadodara last month was produced before magistrate V J Kalotra at his residence, after his previous remand in the Khadia blast case ended today.

Magistrate Kalotra sent Danish to 11-day custody of the city crime branch in the Civil Hospital blast case after the investigating agency sought a 14-day remand.

The crime branch contended that Danish was an active member of IM and was in touch with other absconding accused of the 2008 serial bomb blasts case before he was arrested.

Danish, being an active member of the IM, could provide information about the Mumbai blast, the agency added.

Public Prosecutor Mitesh Amin said Danish had sent emails to another accused in the Ahmedabad blasts case Faizal, who was arrested by the Madhya Pradesh police last month.

These emails are in a coded language and Danish needs to be questioned regarding it, Amin said.

According to the crime branch, Danish was allegedly involved in the conspiracy of the Ahmedabad serial blasts, along with others like Bhatkal brothers and Abdus Subhan Tauqueer, and was also present as a trainee at the terror training camp held by IM in Kerala.

After the blasts, Danish allegedly used to provide shelter to the absconding accused including the Bhatkal brothers and Tauqueer at his hometown Ranchi, they said.

Danish, who worked with a software company in Hyderabad, was in constant touch with other members of IM and SIMI. His whereabouts was revealed during interrogation of three serial blasts accused Mujib Sheikh, Dr Faizal Faim and Mehbub Mallik, who were arrested by the Madhya Pradesh police, the crime branch said.

Fifty-seven people died and over 200 persons were injured in the serial blasts in Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008. Till date 65 alleged members of IM and SIMI are in jail in connection with the case.