Senior sources from the Maharashtra government said that it was “mere speculation” that Yasin Bhatkal, during his interrogation, defended Himayat Baig as being innocent and took complete responsibility for the 2010 German bakery blast in Pune, along with another accomplice Mohammed Qateel Siddiqui. Siddiqui was murdered in Yerwada prison in June 2012.
Baig (33) has been awarded death sentence by a sessions court for providing logistical support for the blast at the bakery on February 13, 2010, which killed 17 people, including Iranian, Yemeni and German nationals.
Bhatkal is believed to have absolved Baig, claimed responsibility for the bombing and named Siddiqui as his co-conspirator. But, a highly-placed source in the Maharashtra government said their Delhi counterparts hadn’t confirmed the development.
Explaining Baig’s role in the blast, ATS chief Rakesh Maria said, “Baig had conducted a recce along with Yasin on January 31. Baig accompanied Yasin on February 13 (day of the blast) till a certain point. The bag used for storing the RDX and the Nokia 1100 mobile phone used for the blast were purchased by Baig.” Baig was born and brought up in Beed and his 73-year-old father ran a small sweet shop. Baig struggled to complete his SSC, after which he did a diploma in education. He also worked as a welder and gave tuitions on computer applications. Kagzi, who is wanted in other terror cases, indoctrinated Baig sometime in 2005, but the latter has not been to Pakistan. After the 2006 Aurangabad arms haul case, Baig ran off to Pune and from there he went to Udgir, Latur. Baig was given `2.5 lakh in Colombo, which he used to set up a cyber café.