CBI officials said Asimanand would guide the investigating officials to connect the missing links in the Mecca Masjid, Ajmer and Malegaon blasts case.
In a major breakthrough in the Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blast case, the CBI has arrested Hindu extremist spiritual leader Swami Asimanand from Haridwar, where he was staying under a fake identity. The CBI had been on his trail for about six months.
CBI officials said Asimanand would guide the investigating officials to connect the missing links in the Mecca Masjid, Ajmer and Malegaon blasts case.
The swami’s role as a key figure in the net of Hindu extremist organisations, including Abhinav Bharat, was first revealed during the questioning of Lt Col Shrikant Purohit who was arrested for his alleged role in the Malegaon blast. Purohit had told investigators that Asimanand had introduced him to Sadhvi Pragya Singh.
The self-proclaimed godman originally known as Jatin Chatterjee has been operating out of the Dangs since early 2000 and took up the issue of conversions of tribals. He reportedly hails from Hoogly district in West Bengal.
A post graduate in Botany, he is also a member of the Ramkrishna Mission.
CBI sources disclosed he used to run an ashram called the Shabaridham Ashram in the Dangs and has a long list of followers, many of whom have been quizzed by the CBI. The investigation agency also believes that he may have used funds of his ashram to finance the attacks.
A senior CBI officer, closely involved in the investigation, said Asimanand was very upset about the series of terror strikes in India being carried out by Islamic terror groups backed by Pakistan.
The CBI said they have managed to get hold of telephonic conversations between Asimanand and others speaking about further retaliatory strikes. He was apparently using his driver Sunil Dhwade’s mobile phone to make these calls.
“He is an important person since he was a crucial link in other blasts carried out by Hindu extremist groups. We believe that he was in know of things when Ajmer and Mecca Masjid blasts were being planned. In fact, he was in inspiration for other people involved in the case, including Chandrashekhar and Davendra (main accused in Ajmer, Mecca Masjid and Goa blasts),’’ a senior CBI officer said.
Meanwhile, a Delhi court has granted him the transit remand for two days. And he will be produced before the designated court in Hyderabad for further remand.
The CBI has announced a reward of Rs10 lakh for providing information on the other two absconding —Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra — both resident of Indore and MP respectively.
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