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One more suspect would be arrested soon, ATS chief Hemant Karkare said at a press conference.
Karkare said the case would now shift to the special MCOCA court in Mumbai. Currently, the proceedings are underway at a court in Nashik district, under which Malegaon falls.
MCOCA allows police to keep an accused in custody longer than in ordinary case, before the chargesheet is filed.
He said that ATS' current ‘focus’ was only on the Malegaon blast case, and not on Samjhauta Express explosions of 2007.
The police officer said ATS was expecting some vital evidence to emerge from scrutiny of the laptop of Sudhakar Chaturvedi, one of the accused.
The investigation would be hopefully completed within 90 days, Karkare added.
No political pressure on us in Malegaon probe: ATS chief
Rebutting senior BJP leader L K Advani's charge, Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad said there was no political pressure on it in handling the Malegaon blast probe nor was there any substance in the charge that accused Lt Col P S Purohit was tortured in custody.
"There is zero political pressure and we are working professionally. Purohit has said in open court that ATS has not ill treated him," ATS head Hemant Karkare said.
Regarding Advani's allegation that Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, another arrested accused in the case, was ill treated by the ATS, he said the matter was sub-judice and he would not like to say anything at the moment.
Karkare said, "despite media reports and his (Purohit's) relatives saying he was ill treated he told the court that there was no such thing."
Dayanand Pandey had also said he was ill treated but the court did not see any marks and medical reports also found the allegations to be incorrect, Karkare said.
Pandey, when produced in a Nashik court on November 14, had alleged he had been physically tortured by the ATS after being arrested. He was taken to the magistrate's chambers where he was examined but no marks of torture were found, he said.
"In this case, like all cases, we adhere to methods prescribed under the CrPC and we use witness statements, technical evidence and interrogation," Karkare said.
PM Manmohan Singh dials Advani
New Delhi, November 20:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called up BJP leader L K Advani and raised the issue of his allegations about torture of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, one of the prime accused in the Malegaon blast case, in connection with the ongoing ATS probe.
During the telephonic conversation on Wednesday, the Prime Minister is understood to have told the Leader of the Opposition that the BJP charges are being looked into by appropriate authorities and that he will get back after ascertaining the facts. The BJP had also raised questions on the neutrality of Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
Advani is also understood to have raised the issue of affidavit filed in a Nashik court by Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in which she alleging she is being tortured by ATS personnel which he described as ‘barbaric treatment’.
The Prime Minister is also understood to have voiced concern over how religious labels are being given for terror.
Breaking his silence in the Malegaon probe while coming out in support of the Sadhvi,Advani alleged on Tuesday ‘It has become clear that the ATS is acting in a politically-motivated and unprofessional manner’.
BJP president Rajnath Singh and several party leaders have also targeted the ATS and have accused there is a political conspiracy.
Sudhakar was in touch with Purohit: ATS
Sudhakar Chaturvedi, arrested in connection with Malegaon blast case, was the national coordinator of radical group Abhinav Bharat who remained in touch with key accused Lt Col Srikant Prasad Purohit, Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) told a court in Mumbai.
ATS was granted transit custody of Chaturvedi by a magistrate court.
Chaturvedi is likely to be produced before a Nashik court on Friday where the ATS will seek his police custody.
He was arrested on November 4 outside suburban Dadar railway station for possession of a country-made revolver and a fake army identity card.
He had undergone scientific tests like brain mapping and narco analysis at the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory on November 18.
During police interrogation Chaturvedi said the revolver and the identity card was given to him by Purohit. The identity card was a temporary pass which allowed Chaturvedi access into the artillery centre at Deolali camp of the army near Nashik, police sources said.
Chaturvedi, allegedly a former RSS activist, had met Purohit and others accused in the case like Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Dayanand Pandey at meetings organised by Abhinav Bharat, the sources said.
Advani told the Prime Minister that he was keeping quiet on the issue till now but was forced to speak after seeing the affidavit filed by Pragya in court, a BJP MP said.
Advani also advised the Prime Minister to go through Pragya's affidavit to know the seriousness of the situation.
Singh assured Advani that he will look into the matter, the BJP MP said on condition of anonymity.
Singh informed Advani that he had seen the statement made by the Opposition leader in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday about repeated narco analysis done on Pragya Singh Thakur.
Advani had also said at the public meeting that no women police personnel were present during the tests.
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THIS IS THE MOST MEMORABLE PM FOR HINDUS.
This was expected right from the beginning. Now, the ATS can keep the accused under custody for six months without trial. By that time the next elections may be over. I have been under the impression that whenever a serving defense personnel, especially a high ranking officer is suspected of committing any crime, the civil authorities have no authority to arrest and question the accused without explicit permission from the Military. Instead, they should apprise the defense forces with evidences about the culpability of the accused. The defense forces conducts an independent investigation and then hands over the accused to the civil authorities if they are convinced of the crime. But, in Lt. Col. Purohit's case, it seems the whole process was reversed. The ATS first gave wide publicity for the case so that the Military won't raise any objection for fear of adverse publicity. If the ATS really has the required proof, why should they invoke MCOCA. They could have them convicted directly.
let MCOCA be slapped on advani for supporting these terrorist and politicising the issue, BJP is bharat jalao party and supports terrorist organization like VHP,BajrangDal, RSS
Secular vadi Congresyas and Kami Parties. Shame Shame. Where was your secularism when u chopped out Pak, quater of India on religiosl lines.
Can Advani decide who is terrorist and who is innocent ?
Dear Sir, It is no surprise that leaders like LKAdwani and Rajnath Singh are now blaming the ATS for partiality because they have been instructed to do so by their mentor the RSS. The RSS is now afraid that the ATS is sure to reach it if not thwarted at this time. The ATS of Maharashtra deserves all the praise for breaking the Malegaon conspiracy which even the IB could not do. It has done the right thing by applying MACOCA on Purohit. All the other suspects like Sadhwi Pragya Sing, Pandey,Chaturvedi etc. must also be booked under this Act.
Congress will be wiped from India due to partisan politics. This shows the level of deceit it plays in politics to remain in power. BJP and hindi organisations should carry on the fight. Do not care for congress and communist
It is very clear from the video clippings shown on TV channelsthat sadhvi was finding it difficult to get down from the police van; apparently she has been beaten in police custody. it does not require a doctor to certify. Now that ATS has invoked the Maharastra terror Law, which was not done in other cases, it is quite obvious their case is weak as per IPC! The majority community which is feeling insecure is not good for democracy!
Sonia Gandhi's calling Modi merchant of death cost the Congress many states. Now the Congress led government misusing ATS to bend over backward to implicate the Malegaon blast suspects will create wedge in the voters on communal lines and will cost the Congress dearly. The investigation should not only be fair but it should also appear to be fair.
Advani being a Prime Ministerial candidate should make it clear to the nation immediately whether he and his party is with terrorists or Indians.
MR> PatriotHow come you don't have same standerd for muslims.Narendra Mody you are right they give coca ony to congres ruled state so they can manouver in what evere way they wanr
Only when a Brahmin is caught doing wrong, they say, Hinduism is in trouble.
So what next, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh and Mr. R.R.Patil, imposition of Emergency in Maharashtra? You are digging your own political grave, that is for sure!
Fantastic. Those who have slaughtered 90 innocent persons in Assam, 80 in Jaipur, 70 in Ahmedabad and 30 in Delhi will, if held at all, be treated with kid gloves. But an innocent Sadvi and an Army officer - innocent because sustained torture has not brought out any proof as yet in spite of hourly media leaks - will be cramped under the toughest law of the land allowed to run only in the premium Congress ruled state! Glory to secularism. Heil Vote Bank Politics!
This is conspiracy by the fascist Indian state. They will use this example that they are also arresting Hindus and then use to totally arrest all Muslim and Christian and others in India and put them in MCOCA for ever in jail. Poor Christian and Muslim will have nowhere to run, while this Hindu is living like son in law in jail.
good job ATS, Please clean all the terrorist from india irrespective of religion. Hit hard to both Hindu and Muslim terrorist. We want a terrorism free india. Jai Hind.
This is very bad on the part of ATS that it is taking such strong interest in investigating the Malegaon Blast while Terrorist like Afzal Gure is still enjoying the patronage of system. I am at loss to understand that why authorities are not transparent in dealing with traitors and they are using double standards.
Kindly note my comments is above cast, creed, religion or any affiliation, but purely an Indian whose heart bits for the country.The ATS have done a marvellous job while make successful arrest of anti-social/anti-unity people on various bomb blasts charges. The act of bombing and killing our own people (Muslims or Hindus) are regarding henious crime and for oue own people only.We have also seen the double face / frustration from BJP and their affiliation outfits on this arrest. Can anyone think what a conspiracy just to gain political mileage from bombings and simply blaming UPA government. When ATS grabbed the accused and found to be associated with BJP, RSS and VHP, they are foul crying and questioning the integrity of ATS.In my view, ATS (especially Mumbai ATS) is doing a highly professional job, as they have finally got the culprits who had made sure to de-stabilize India at any cost. I understand as a one nation theory, we can grow and further develop ourselves.