Pakistani national Arshad Khan, arrested in connection with alleged conspiracy of Lashkar-e- Toiba to carry out attacks in Delhi and adjoining areas, was today remanded to nine days police custody by a Delhi court.
Arshad, who was lodged in Kolkata jail in connection with shoe baron Partha Roy Burman kidnapping case of 2001, was today produced before the court here in pursuance to the production warrant issued against him.
The Special Cell of Delhi Police arrested Arshad and sought his custodial interrogation for nine days, saying he was required to be quizzed to unearth the whole conspiracy and to know about the "penetration of LeT in Delhi and other parts of India".
"Accused Arshad is to be interrogated to unearth the whole conspiracy for executing a terrorist strike in Delhi and neighbouring areas by the accused and to know the penetration of LeT in Delhi and other parts of India," the police told Additional Sessions Judge Reetesh Singh.
The police also said Arshad was needed to be interrogated about absconding top LeT commander Javed Baluchi, who is based in Pakistan. "Accused Arshad has to be interrogated about the wanted accused Javed Baluchi based in Pakistan and other persons involved in the conspiracy. It is, therefore, requested that nine days police custody remand of Arshad may kindly be granted," the police said.
During the hearing, advocate MS Khan, who appeared for Arshad, vehemently opposed the contentions of the police saying his client was nowhere connected with this case.
Khan also argued that there was no need to grant nine days police custody. The court, however, remanded Arshad to police custody till August 21.
The court had earlier sent suspected LeT operatives Abdul Subhan and his nephew Asahbuddin, arrested in the case, to judicial custody. Meanwhile, the court today issued production warrants seeking presence of Subhan and Asahbuddin before it tomorrow.
The police had earlier told the court that Arshad was likely to be produced before the court here after which the probe agency might again seek police custody of Subhan and Asahbuddin as they were required to be confronted with each other.
The special cell had earlier filed its charge sheet in the case against accused Mohd Rashid and Mohd Shahid who were arrested in December last year from Haryana's Mewat region. With their arrest, police had claimed to have unearthed a terror module of LeT which was at an "advanced stage" of planning a major strike in Delhi.
Subhan was arrested by the special cell on May 20 while Asahbuddin, who was serving life term in Kolkata for his role in Partha Roy Burman kidnapping case, was arrested here on May 27 after he was brought to Delhi in pursuance to a production warrant issued against him by the court.
Police had told the court that Baluchi, a top LeT commander based in Pakistan, was the "kingpin" of the entire conspiracy and Arshad was in touch with him.
It had said that these accused were arrested in connection with a case of conspiracy of LeT to kidnap a businessman or industrialist to generate funds for buying weapons and explosives to carry out terror attacks in Delhi and adjoining areas.
A charge sheet was filed against Mohd Rashid and Mohd Shahid on May 8, this year and they were charged with offences of criminal conspiracy under the IPC and the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Rashid and Shahid are presently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.
Regarding Baluchi, police had said intelligence agencies had provided information in November last year that Baluchi was contacted on his Pakistani mobile number from Rajasthan and there were conversations regarding a conspiracy to carry out a terror strike in India.
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