I wish we had arrested Abu Salem: Rakesh Maria

Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Rakesh Maria, who headed the special team formed to investigate the 1993 blasts, speaks to HT about the Supreme Court verdict.

What is your reaction to the verdict?
The number of convictions, which are based on the evidence gathered by the police, speak for themselves.

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How complicated was the blasts probe?
Each case we investigate is unique, but these were the first serial blasts to rock the city. In the absence of mobile phones and computers, we managed to nab the foot soldiers – mainly hawkers, mechanics and drug peddlers – involved in the attack. Now, times have changed and even educated people are indoctrinated to conduct such attacks.

As the SC verdict closes this chapter, do you have any regrets about the investigations?
We missed the chance to arrest gangster Abu Salem hours after the attack. Had we arrested him, the history of the Mumbai underworld would have been very different.