Transfer of July 13 blasts case to NIA will hamper probe: ATS

The Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad has told the Bombay high court that the investigation into the July 13 Mumbai bomb blasts were at a crucial stage and all aspects of involvement of different terror groups is being considered and the places of suspects and wanted accused are being checked.

The Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad has told the Bombay high court that the investigation into the July 13 Mumbai bomb blasts were at a crucial stage and all aspects of involvement of different terror groups is being considered and the places of suspects and wanted accused are being checked.

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An affidavit filed by Suresh Deshpande, ACP, ATS, states that the investigation has achieved considerable and significant progress and transferring the case to a national agency would hamper the investigation at this juncture.

The affidavit has been filed in response to a PIL filed by advocate V P Patil seeking CBI or NIA probe into the bomb blasts that ripped through Opera House, Zaveri Bazaar and Dadar Kabutarkhana in July.

Patil had filed the PIL on the grounds that the ATS has made no progress in the case.

The affidavit states that apart from leads on sketches of suspects, “officers and men have been provided with a list of recently released criminals having organised crime syndicate affiliations along with conducting discreet inquiries on suspected persons who have recently come to city or are missing after the incident.”

Deshpande also states one of the recommendations of the Ram Pradhan pane report was that all terror-related cases should be probed by the ATS. The court will hear the case on Friday.