If staying in Mumbai for almost a year, right under the nose of the Mumbai police and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), wasn't enough, the two Pakistani nationals, who had reportedly triggered three blasts in the city on July 13, 2011, with help from the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM), had even joined a health club and gymnasium in south Mumbai.
Investigations have revealed that Bakas and Tavrez had enrolled themselves in a gymnasium near the LT Marg police station and would work out there regularly.
The gym is a stone's throw away from the police commissioner's office and less than a kilometre from Zaveri Bazaar — one of their targets on July 13, 2011.
Investigators refused to divulge the name of the gymnasium, but confirmed that they had questioned the authorities.
"The gym authorities have confirmed that the duo had taken membership for a year, but stopped going to the gym after November. They fled the city in the first week of December after the Delhi police arrested six IM members in November 2011," said a central intelligence officer, on condition of anonymity.
The gym authorities told the police that Tavrez was a regular there, while Bakas would not come often.
The police tried to verify the address and other details given by Bakas and Tabrez at the time of enrolling with the gym. “They had given the address of Habib Mansion in Byculla, but had not attached their photographs or phone numbers," the officer added.
David Coleman Headley, a prime suspect in the 26/11 terror attacks, had also joined a gym in south Mumbai during his stay in the city for a recce of the target spots.
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