Court dismisses Bhatkal's bail plea

A court here Thursday dismissed the bail application of Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar in the September 2008 Greater Kailash blast case.

The court also allowed a police plea seeking extension of the investigation period, after officials said that during the probe, information about another accused Ariz Khan alias Junaid was revealed and an operation to trace him was underway.

Police told Additional Sessions judge Daya Prakash that the suspect could be in a "West Asian country" and they were coordinating with intelligence agencies to confirm his identity so that the process for his extradition or deportation can be taken up.

The court granted 15 more days to conclude the investigation and refused to release Bhatkal and Akhtar on bail.

Defence counsel M.S. Khan, appearing for Bhatkal, had requested the court to release his client.

He raised a question as to how the period of investigation can be extended from 90 days to any period in the absence of the accused in the court.

Several blasts had rocked the national capital Sep 13, 2008. As many as 13 suspected Indian Mujahideen members are currently facing trial in the case.