Key accused yet to admit to major role in 1993 serial blasts

Key 1993 serial blasts accused Tahir Merchant (54) is proving to be a hard nut to crack for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials.

Key 1993 serial blasts accused Tahir Merchant (54) is proving to be a hard nut to crack for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) officials.

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The CBI arrested Merchant on June 8 after the Interpol deported him from Abu Dhabi.

But in the two days of interrogation, Merchant has not admitted to any major role in the 13 blasts that rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993, killing 257 people and injuring 713 others.

"He has accepted just a part of his suspected role," a CBI official said, requesting anonymity for lack of authorisation to talk to the media.

The official said Merchant has not accepted attending the meetings in Dubai where prime accused Tiger Memon and underworld don Dawood Ibrahim hatched the blasts conspiracy.

The official, however, added that whether Merchant accepts his role in the blasts or not would not make much difference because the CBI has got confessions from seven other accused about his involvement.

"These confessions, which were taken under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, are admissible in court," the official added.

He said the agency is also interested in extracting information from Merchant on other fugitives. "If he speaks about other fugitives, that would be extremely crucial for us," the CBI official added.

The CBI is yet to get a confession from Merchant about his close links with Memon and Dawood.

"We have not yet reached that stage. It would take some time," the official said.

On Thursday, CBI officials took Merchant to a hospital after he complained about an asthma-related problem.

Merchant has been remanded in CBI custody until June 14.