One of the two arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad on Monday had been instrumental in scouting for and arranging the accommodation for the two absconding accused who had stayed in the Byculla building on rent.
According to ATS chief Rakesh Maria, one of the arrested accused, Naqi Sheikh, had gone around with Indian Mujahideen co-founder and prime accused in the case Yasin Bhatkal looking for lodgings for the two. “Bhatkal rejected two or three places first before the one in Habib building was finalised, the payment for which was made by Naqi. There have been reports about how Naqi is innocent, but we have proof that he knew Bhatkal’s background and had paid him several visits in Darbangha,” he said.
ATS officers said that Naqi had enrolled in a gymnasium in Kumbharwada, a kilometre away from the blast site, and also introduced the absconding duo Waqqas and Tabrez with the management, who later on became members of the gym.
“They purposely chose the 7 pm to 8 pm batch, to understand the target site well,” Mr Maria said, adding that 12,373 witnesses had been questioned after the blasts and footage from 180 CCTV cameras analysed.
“Through this footage, we successfully identified the bomb planters, who were the two lodged in Byculla,” he said.