14 days police custody for Yasin Bhatkal

A court here today ordered Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal, who is allegedly involved in the German Bakery bomb blast case, to 14 days of police custody.

Assistant Police Commissioner of the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Shantaram Tayde produced Yasin Bhatkal in the court of Additional Sessions Judge S D Dharne today.

Bhatkal is the key suspect in the German Bakery attack on February 13, 2010, which killed 17 people and injured 64.

After watching CCTV camera footage, investigating agencies accused Bhatkal of being involved in the blast.

Asked by the court if Bhatkal had any complaints against the police, he replied in the negative. When the court asked him if he needed a lawyer, he replied in the affirmative.

As a lawyer is needed to give Bhatkal judicial remand, advocate Indrapreet Gil showed his consent to become his lawyer.

Public prosecutor Raja Thakre demanded police custody for Bhatkal, arguing the police still have to probe other crimes which the accused had allegedly committed when he absconded.

Thakre argued the police are yet to investigate the source of the RDX brought by Bhatkal, adding the police might get information about the other absconders from him.

Thakre said the police are yet to study the communication system in Indian Mujahideen.

Bhatkal was arrested from Indo-Nepal border on August 28 last year, after being on the run for almost eight years.