The Maharashtra Minority Commission demanded that the Malegaon blast probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as it didn't see any element of authenticity in the probe and subsequent arrests made by the state police.
The demand has been made a day after Director General of Police Dr PS Pasricha claimed that the Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) had cracked the case and the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) activists and some Pakistani nationals had triggered the blasts.
However, chairman of the commission Naseem Siddiqui alleged that there was difference of opinion between the DG and ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi. "Both have made contradicting statements about the suspected terrorist groups. While Pasricha says it was SIMI, Raghuvanshi has pointed figures at some other group," said Siddiqui.
"The police have arrested wrong persons and hence we demand that CBI should take over from them," the chairman added.
Interestingly, Raghuvanshi didn't attend the DG's press conference giving some substance to the clashes between the two officers, said a commission member on condition of anonymity.
Surprisingly, the commission chose to address a press conference instead of taking the matter to the Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil, who heads the Home Department.
{{/usCountry}}Surprisingly, the commission chose to address a press conference instead of taking the matter to the Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil, who heads the Home Department.
{{/usCountry}}Siddique said the members would meet Patil on December 1.