2008 Bangalore blasts accused Abdul Nasser Madani lands in city, PDP leader’s arrest brings hope for blast probe.
The city police on Tuesday afternoon finally arrested Bangalore serial blasts accused and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Madani, 45, outside his camp at Anwarssery in Kerala’s Kollam district.
Immediately after being brought to Bangalore late on Tuesday night, Madani was produced before the magistrate who remanded him to 10-day police custody. Also on Tuesday, the Supreme Court declared Madani’s anticipatory bail plea null and void.
Madani’s arrest has opened avenues for a thorough probe into the July 25, 2008 serial blasts which claimed the life of a woman opposite St John’s Hospital on Sarjapur Road. The Bangalore police team led by joint commissioner of police (Crime) Alok Kumar, landed at the Bangaluru International Airport (BIA) along with Madani on a Kingfisher flight (IT 4736) from Thiruvananthapuram at 9.28pm.
At 9.45pm, the police produced him before 1st additional chief metropolitan magistrate Venkatesh Hulagi at his residence at 11.25pm.
The magistrate remanded him to 10 days’ police custody – up till August 26 – with Tuesday (August 17) counted as the first day.
“We requested the magistrate to remand Madani to police custody for 10 days so that we can thoroughly interrogate him about his role in the (Bangalore) serial blasts case and collect more information about his links, if any,” Alok Kumar said outside the magistrate’s residence.
After being produced before the magistrate, Madani was handed over to assistant commissioner of police, Sheshadripuram sub-division, HM Omkaraiah, who has been designated as the investigation officer probing into the case.
Madani was taken to a safe house at an undisclosed location in Bangalore to be lodged under house arrest, under Omkaraiah’s charge.
Omkaraiah confirmed to DNA that Madani would not be lodged in any jail while in police custody, but interrogation would begin as soon as he is settled into the safe house.
Madani’s lawyer T Usman told DNA that during the 10-day police custody, the police will have to provide him with all facilities required along with medical treatment.
Madani, who is accused number 31 of a total of 32 accused in the Bangalore serial blast case, lost his right leg during an attempt on his life in 1992 in Kozhikode.
He has been wheelchair-bound ever since.
Usman said Madani will be allowed to meet him any time he wishes at the safe house, the location of which has not been revealed for security reasons.
“With the Islamic month of Ramzan in progress, the police will have to make arrangements for Madani to offer Namaz, and no interrogations should be conducted during the time of prayers,” he said.
Karnataka’s director general of police, Ajai Kumar Singh, thanked the Kerala Police for their co-operation in ensuring Madani’s arrest. “We particularly thank DG and IGP, Kerala, IGP, Southern Range, Thiruvananthapuram and SP, Kollam District while appreciating the work done by the Bangalore City Police, particularly of joint commissioner of police (crime) Alok Kumar and his team.
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