'Promising leads' in probe into Mumbai, Delhi blast cases: Chidambaram

There are promising leads in the investigations into the cases of bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai and Delhi in a span of less than two months but no one has been confirmed as accused yet, Home Minister P Chidambaram said here today.

Asked about a possible breakthrough in either of two blast cases, the Home Minister said, "Well that depends on what you call a breakthrough."

"If you are asking are there any promising leads, the answer is yes. If you are asking whether any one has been confirmed to be an accused, the answer is no, not yet," Chdiambaram told reporters here.

Referring to the September 7 blast outside the Delhi High Court which left 15 people dead and scores injured, he said, "Having regard to the gravity of the offence, the Centre decided to entrust the investigation of the case to the NIA."

The July 13 blasts at three places in Mumbai left 24 people dead. While there were no arrests in the Mumbai blast cases, in Delhi the investigators have arrested two persons for sending email after the blast.

Asked whether any fresh alerts had been issued in view of forthcoming festival season, Chidambaram said that states like Gujarat and West Bengal have been advised to maintain a tight vigil.