The Bombay high court on Friday directed the state government to file a reply as to whether it would want to transfer the 13/7 serial train blasts case investigations from Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). 

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

Division bench of justice SA Bobde and justice VK Tahilramani has directed the state to file the reply within one week. The directions came during the hearing of a PIL filed by advocate VP Patil and others, contending that as the blasts were an act of terror against the nation, a central agency like the CBI or NIA should be entrusted with the probe.

Maharashtra ATS and Mumbai Crime Branch are jointly investigating the triple blasts which had left 27 dead and over 100 wounded. The explosions had rocked crowded thoroughfares in Zaveri Bazaar and Opera House in south and Dadar in central Mumbai.  

Patil argued that “the case was of sensitive nature and had international ramifications. The state police has got no leads till now. Further, the Delhi high court blast was also being probed by the NIA, which is formed only for the purpose of investigating terror related cases.” 

Public Prosecutor PA Pol argued that investigations were going on and the Delhi high court blast was transferred to the NIA because it had occurred in the capital of the country. To which Patil contended that “this is the financial capital of the country and thus it should also be probed by the NIA.”