SIM used by Margao blast accused belonged to a farmer first

Malgonda Patil, the prime accused in Margao bomb blast, used a SIM card registered in the name of a farmer from Baramati, who had lost it two years ago, police confirmed here today.

The cell phone number, Patil used on the day of blast, was traced to one Vitthal Jadhav whose son had lost it two years ago, they said.

A bomb had gone off pre-maturely on October 16 killing Patil and Yogesh Naik—both Sanatan Saunstha activists—while they were allegedly ferrying it on a scooter.

The investigation into the case led police to picking up Jadhav, his son Mahadev Jadhav and one more suspect Pradeep Mane for interrogation.

"The trio was picked up by Goa Police last night from Baramati rural police station jurisdiction and released after interrogation," superintendent of police (PRO), Atmaram Deshpande told PTI.

Jadhav lost the card and later forgot about it. It was only after he was called by police, he realised that it was being misused, Mane said.

"Jadhav does not even know Malgonda Patil. God knows from where he got the card," he said.

Jadhav said that after he lost the card he tried contacting it but it always showed switched off.

"I did not file a police complaint about the loss of SIM card, as I thought it must be lying somewhere in the mud," he said.