Pune German Bakery blast suspect remanded to judicial custody till June 14

MUMBAI: Abdul Samad Bhatkal, a prime suspect in the Pune German Bakery blast, was today remanded to 14-days judicial custody by a local court in connection with a 2009 illegal arms seizure case.

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had arrested Samad from Mangalore, today did not seek his custody and told the court that Samad be sent to judicial custody.

Although ATS has not named Samad in the February 13 Pune blast case, Union Home Minister P C Chidambaram had soon after his arrest said that he was a prime suspect in the attack, which left 17 people dead.

Samad was arrested from Mangalore on May 24 for allegedly supplying fire arms to three other arrested accused last year.

In August 2009, three persons were arrested from south Mumbai for possession of illegal firearms which, according to the ATS, were supplied by Abdul Samad.