German bakery blast: Himayat Baig admits using friend's ATM card

The sole arrested accused in the German Bakery blast case, Mirza Himayat Baig (30), has stated before the court that he used his friend’s ATM card of the State Bank of Hyderabad in Beed a couple of times for money transactions.

Special judge NP Dhote asked him about the closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage from an ATM centre in which Baig is seen. The CCTV footage was produced before the court by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Baig then said he was using his friend’s ATM card. Judge Dhote asked him 130 questions, to most of which he replied in the  negative, stating “Jhoot Hai.”

Baig received money in euros on his return from alleged terrorist training in Colombo. He had gone to Sri Lanka between March 7 and March 24, 2008. ATS investigations revealed that just a few months before the blast, Baig withdrew Rs73,000, Rs18,500 and Rs30,000 respectively from the State Bank of Hyderabad using ATM cards and accounts registered in the name of his friend. Baig allegedly used five names and 25 email addresses for his operations.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled on Friday. When asked about the forged documents like caste certificate, physical disability certificate, ration card and Sim cards, he replied in the negative. He claimed the physical disabilty certificate did not belong to him and had been planted by the ATS.

When asked about the autorickshaw driver that had identified him at Yerawada Central Prison after he dropped Baig near the German Bakery, he replied that the witness did so on the instructions of the police.