The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had investigated the case earlier, claimed that Majeed, a former member of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India, was one of the planters.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is reinvestigating the Malegaon blasts of 2006, recently recorded the statements of residents of a village in Yavatmal where key accused Mohammed Zahid Abdul Majeed claims to have been on the day of the blasts.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had investigated the case earlier, claimed that Majeed, a former member of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), was one of the planters.
Four bombs had exploded during the holy month of Shab-e-Barat, when thousands of people, mainly Muslims, had gathered to pay their respects to their dead kin. At least 37 people were killed and more than 100 were injured.
According to sources, the CBI officials questioned and recorded the statements of nearly 30 residents of Phoolsangvi village in Yavatmal, which is over 250km away from the blast site. The villagers reportedly told the investigators that Majeed was present in the village on September 8, the day of the blasts. He even led the prayers on that day in the local mosque, the locals reportedly further told the CBI.
The ATS had arrested eight others along with Majeed and claimed that the blast was conducted by the accused in order to create a rift between two communities. Most of the accused had some link or the other with the SIMI.
Investigations took a turn when Swami Aseemanand, a Hindu activist, told a Delhi metropolitan court in January that the blasts were the handiwork of a few RSS pracharaks, including one Sunil Doshi. He claimed that the blasts on the Samjhauta Express and those in Ajmer and Hyderabad were also carried out by Hindu elements.
Reacting to the revelation, the blast accused filed an application before a special MCOCA court for their release on bail. However, the application was turned down by the court, citing that it was too early for their release and that the CBI had just started the re-probe.
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