“Intercepts from mobile phone calls have confirmed that Dange and Ramji were in Pune. The purpose of their visit is being probed,” said an officer of state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).

The ATS is looking for the two. They are suspected to have left a motorcycle carrying the bomb at Malegaon on September 29. The explosion killed five persons and injured many others.

The police are probing if they contacted retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay, working president of Abhinav Bharat, and its treasurer Ajay Rahirkar during their Pune visit.

Based on the interrogations of Rahirkar, the ATS has interrogated some persons from Pune for allegedly funding Abhinav Bharat. Inspector Peter Lobo of Pune ATS said Rahirkar has revealed the names during interrogations.

Sources from ATS said many persons associated to the Hindu outfits in Pune had tremendous faith in Lt Col Prasad Purohit, as he had been a serving army officer and donated money to Abhinav Bharat. Funds also came in from Mumbai and others parts where Purohit had spread his network.