Prime accused gets bail on surety of Rs 1 lakh

A designated Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on Monday granted bail to Saquib Nachan, the prime accused in 2003 Mulund blasts case.

A designated Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on Monday granted bail to Saquib Nachan, the prime accused in 2003 Mulund blasts case.

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The police have alleged that Nachan, who is from Padgah in Thane, is the mastermind of the explosion in the first class compartment of a Karjat-bound local train at Mulund railway station on March 13, 2003, killing 12 and injuring 71.

Designated POTA Judge RG Avachat granted Nachan bail on a surety of Rs 1 lakh on the condition that he cannot leave his hometown without the court’s permission.

He has also been asked to appear before the Padgah police whenever required.

“All the accused are in custody since 2003 and the trial is yet to start. We contended that since it’s a pre-trial detention, they should be granted bail,” said Nachan’s advocate Mubin Solkar. “The other four accused who had confessed were granted bail earlier, Nachan had not confessed.”

Nachan is suspected to belong to the banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India. On April 10, 2003, Nachan surrendered in the Bombay high court and was arrested by the crime branch.

He is also the prime suspect in the blast at the Mumbai Central junction on December 6, 2002, and the other outside the Ville Parle station on January 27, 2003.

According to the ATS officials, Nachan had arranged for the training of firearms, preparations and explosion of bombs at a forest in Padgah.