Swami Aseemanand, a key suspect in multiple bomb attacks at Ajmer, Hyderabad, Malegaon and on the Samjhauta Express near Panipat, recorded what is believed to be a confessional statement in the court of Panchkula’s chief judicial magistrate over nearly five hours on Saturday.
Currently in judicial custody at the Ambala Central Jail, the ultra right-wing Hindu activist was escorted to the CJM Mr Rakesh Singh’s courtroom by National Investigation Agency officials at noon and emerged around 5 pm.
His testimony pertains to his suspected role in the planning and execution of the February 2007 Samjhauta bombing which killed 68 passengers the majority of who were Pakistan nationals returning to Lahore after visiting relatives in India.
While the proceedings were once again held in camera on the NIA’s request and no details of what Aseemanand said were available, his lawyer Mr Manveer Rathi insisted his client was acting under pressure.
“When I spoke to Swami Aseemanand on Thursday, he told me he was being compelled to record a statement. I believe he has succumbed to pressure to make a deposition before the magistrate. He will reveal everything in cross-examination at the trial,” Mr Rathi told reporters outside the court.
Notably, the Swami’s statement was recorded by CJM Singh assisted by a lone stenographer without the presence of either Mr Rathi or the NIA’s counsel. After the proceeding, Swami Aseemanand was driven back to the Ambala Jail in a heavily guarded NIA cavalcade.
Swami Aseemanand was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on November 19 last year for his alleged involvement in the Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad in which nine persons were killed.
Prior to that, investigators say, he was living under an assumed identity in Haridwar City.
The NIA brought him to Panchkula on a production warrant from the Hyderabad Jail on December 23.
Originally from West Bengal’s Hooghly District, the Swami’s real name is Jatin Chatterjee. His name also figured during the Maharashtra Anti Terror Squad’s investigations into the 2008 Malegaon Bombing.