NEW DELHI: Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde may have ruled out the possibility of any reinvestigation in the 2010 Pune German Bakery blasts case, but Indian Mujahideen's (IM) key operative Ahmed Siddibappa alias Yasin Bhatkal, during interrogation, has not only exonerated Himayat Baig, sentenced to death in the case, but also busted the evidence collected by Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) that ensured Baig's conviction.
Contrary to claims made by ATS chargesheet in the German Bakery blasts case, Yasin has told interrogators that the bombs used in German bakery blast were assembled in Pune itself and even the timers and bags used for carrying them were procured locally. ATS chargesheet claims the bombs were assembled by Baig in his cyber cafe in Latur and that he traveled all the way to Mumbai's Musafirkhana market to buy timers and bags to carry them. ATS investigations have also claimed that the bombs were carried by Baig from Latur to Pune on the day of the blasts in a bus.
Yasin, however, has told interrogators that it was he who procured explosives and assembled the bombs. He has said the explosives were procured with help from IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal while he bought bags and timers locally. He has said he assembled the bombs in Pune, stuffed them in bags and gave one to his associate Qateel Siddiqui to plant it at Dagdusheth Halwai temple. While Yasin was successful in executing the blasts at German Bakery, Siddiqui failed to plant it at the temple and fled to Mumbai with it. There, after dumping it in the sea, he went to Jhansi where he met Yasin again. Siddiqui was later killed in Pune's Yerwada jail.
NIA is still verifying the claims made by Yasin. However, the revelation will come as a relief to Baig who has made a submission in Bombay high court that his case be reinvestigated by NIA. An officer from the security establishment said, "Yasin claims to not know Baig at all. Baig may be linked to certain elements in the terror world but he is not involved in German Bakery blasts, it appears."
Interestingly though, Yasin has given some credence to two other controversial arrests made by Maharashtra ATS in the case of 2011 Mumbai serial blasts. He has claimed to know both Haroon Naik and Naqi Ahmed, arrested by Maharashtra ATS as financer and planter respectively in the case.
In connection with 2011 Mumbai serial blasts, however, Yasin has somewhat come to the aide of ATS claiming that he knew both Naqi Ahmed and Haroon Naik.
Naik's arrest in the case came into question as he had allegedly been an informer of ATS whenHemant Karkare headed the agency and had been on surveillance. In fact Maria, while heading the Mumbai crime branch then, had arrested Naik in a small case much to the displeasure of Karkare. Naqi on the other hand has been claimed by Delhi police to be its informer who was helping them arrest Waqas, Tabrez and Yasin from Habib building in Byculla in 2011.
Contrary to claims made by ATS chargesheet in the German Bakery blasts case, Yasin has told interrogators that the bombs used in German bakery blast were assembled in Pune itself and even the timers and bags used for carrying them were procured locally. ATS chargesheet claims the bombs were assembled by Baig in his cyber cafe in Latur and that he traveled all the way to Mumbai's Musafirkhana market to buy timers and bags to carry them. ATS investigations have also claimed that the bombs were carried by Baig from Latur to Pune on the day of the blasts in a bus.
Yasin, however, has told interrogators that it was he who procured explosives and assembled the bombs. He has said the explosives were procured with help from IM founder Riyaz Bhatkal while he bought bags and timers locally. He has said he assembled the bombs in Pune, stuffed them in bags and gave one to his associate Qateel Siddiqui to plant it at Dagdusheth Halwai temple. While Yasin was successful in executing the blasts at German Bakery, Siddiqui failed to plant it at the temple and fled to Mumbai with it. There, after dumping it in the sea, he went to Jhansi where he met Yasin again. Siddiqui was later killed in Pune's Yerwada jail.
NIA is still verifying the claims made by Yasin. However, the revelation will come as a relief to Baig who has made a submission in Bombay high court that his case be reinvestigated by NIA. An officer from the security establishment said, "Yasin claims to not know Baig at all. Baig may be linked to certain elements in the terror world but he is not involved in German Bakery blasts, it appears."
Interestingly though, Yasin has given some credence to two other controversial arrests made by Maharashtra ATS in the case of 2011 Mumbai serial blasts. He has claimed to know both Haroon Naik and Naqi Ahmed, arrested by Maharashtra ATS as financer and planter respectively in the case.
In connection with 2011 Mumbai serial blasts, however, Yasin has somewhat come to the aide of ATS claiming that he knew both Naqi Ahmed and Haroon Naik.
Naik's arrest in the case came into question as he had allegedly been an informer of ATS whenHemant Karkare headed the agency and had been on surveillance. In fact Maria, while heading the Mumbai crime branch then, had arrested Naik in a small case much to the displeasure of Karkare. Naqi on the other hand has been claimed by Delhi police to be its informer who was helping them arrest Waqas, Tabrez and Yasin from Habib building in Byculla in 2011.
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