Court extends NIA custody of Delhi HC blast accused

A Delhi court today extended till October 14 the NIA custody of Amir Abbas Dev, one of the accused in the September 7 Delhi High Court blast that killed 15 persons and injured over 70 others.

Special NIA Judge HS Sharma extended Dev's custody by seven days after the investigating agency told the court that it needed more time for his custodial interrogation.

It also told the court during the in-camera proceedings that Dev was needed to be confronted with the statements of the other co-accused.

Dev was brought to Delhi on September 21 along with his co-accused Abid Hussain following their arrest at Kishtwar, Jammu Kashmir.

They had allegedly sent emails to media houses claiming responsibility for the blast on behalf of banned terror outfit Harkat ul-Jihad al-Islami (HUJI).

The NIA had in its remand application earlier told the court that besides sending terror mails to media houses, Dev was one of the terrorists who had conducted the bomb blast between gate number 4 and 5 of the Delhi High Court.

Dev and Hussain have been booked under various provisions of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosive Substances Act, dealing with conspiracy, murder, attempt to kill, causing hurt and using explosives.