Delhi Police want custody of ‘key’ blasts accused

The Special Cell of Delhi Police will move an application in a Mumbai court to seek the remand of Mohammad Sadiq Sheikh, allegedly a key conspirator of Indian Mujahideen (IM), reports Vijaita Singh.

The Special Cell of Delhi Police will move an application in a Mumbai court on Monday to seek the remand of Mohammad Sadiq Sheikh, allegedly a key conspirator of Indian Mujahideen (IM).

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Sheikh, who was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch in October, is said to be one of the key coordinators of the serial blasts across the country. He was allegedly assisted by Amir Reza Khan, who is now believed to be in Pakistan.

Sheikh’s custody with Mumbai Police ends on Monday and the Special Cell of Delhi Police would subsequently seek the court’s permission to bring him to Delhi for further investigation.

“The three main leaders of IM — Atif, who was killed in an encounter; Sheikh, who was arrested by Mumbai Police, and Riyaz Bhatkal, a founding member of IM and a former associate of Dawood Ibrahim’s lieutenant Fazl-ur-Rehman — were acting on the behest of Amir Reza Khan, who is said to be based in Pakistan. Bhatkal is still absconding. All the three were being controlled by Khan,” said a senior police officer.

Sheikh, a father of three, was working as a programming engineer in an electronics company. He was reportedly in direct contact with Khan and was also coordinating the operations with Atif, who was killed in an encounter at Batla House in Jamia Nagar, on September 19.

“Several members of the Delhi module of IM are still at large. The interrogation of Sheikh is necessary to nail them. Since Atif is dead and Bhatkal is absconding, the interrogation of Sheikh is very important,” said the officer.