The state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) investigating the planting of improvised explosive devices at auditoriums in Thane, Vashi and Panvel earlier this year is expected to file a chargesheet in the next couple of days against the six arrested accused allegedly involved in the ‘terrorist’ conspiracy. According to ATS officials, investigations into the matter would continue and a supplementary chargesheet could be filed at a later date after further evidence is collected.

“If all goes according to plan, we will file a chargesheet against the six accused in the the blasts case in the next two or three days at the most. Like the different blasts on 7/11, the Thane, Vashi and Panvel cases have been clubbed into one. The accused will be charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Explosive Substances Act,” Additional Commissioner of Police (ATS) Parambir Singh told Newsline.

When contacted, Joint Commissioner of Police (ATS) Hemant Karkare confirmed: “Yes, we plan to chargesheet the accused in the coming week.”

On June 16, the ATS arrested Ramesh Hanumant Gadkari (50) and Mangesh Dinkar Nikam (34), both members of a Hindu revivalist organisation called the Sanatan Sanstha and its associated organisation, the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti, in connection with the crude bomb planted at Vishnudas Bhave auditorium in Vashi on May 31, and the bomb that exploded at Thane’s Gadkari Rangayatan on June 4. Both venues were to host a Marathi play the organisations had earlier taken objection to.

They were also suspected to be involved in the small explosion at a Panvel theatre screening the film Jodhaa Akbar on February 20.

Over the span of a week, the ATS arrested four other members of the Sanatan Sanstha identified as Santosh Angre (26), Dr Hemant Chalke, Vikram Bhave (26) and Hari Bhau Divekar.

During raids at the properties of Bhave and Nikam in Warsai village of Pen in Raigad district, the ATS seized two revolvers , a huge quantity of ammonium nitrate powder, 20 detonators, 19 gelatin sticks, timers, voltage meters, two radio circuits and remote controllers.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil even announed a Rs.2.5-lakh reward to the ATS team for cracking the case.

During their interrogation, the accused reportedly told the police that while they were members of the Sanatan Sanstha, they had planted the explosives on their own and not at the behest of the organisation. They also said their acts were to protest the screening of the Marathi play Aamhi Pachpute and the film Jodhaa Akbar, as they believed them to be an affront to Hindu sentiments. At the time, the ATS had stated that they would not rely on the statements of the accused, and would verify whether the Sanatan Sanstha was actively involved.

On July 17, narco-analysis tests were conducted on Bhave and Gadkari at the Kalina Forensic Sciences Laboratory.