Swamy Asimanand In Custody

Sleuths of the Central Bureau Of Investigations (CBI) on Saturday produced one of the accused in the Mecca Masjid blast case, Swamy Asimanand, before the 14th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Nampally Criminal Court on Saturday.

The court remanded Swamy Asimanand (59) to judicial remand till November 30th.

Swamy Asimanand was arrested by the CBI for his alleged involvement in the blast in Haridwar on Friday, and was shifted to New Delhi. He was, earlier in the day, flown in from New Delhi.

According to sources, the Swamy was lodged in Manjeera Guest House before being produced before the court.

Swamy Asimanand is also suspected to be involved in the Malegaon blast and the Ajmer blast cases.

When the magistrate asked his lawyer to speak on the Swamy's behalf, he told the court that he had faith in the investigating agency. The court had earlier appointed Chenna Keshavulu to represent Swamy Asimanand.

Public Prosecutor Vikram Kumar filed a petition in court requesting permission from the CBI to shift Swamy Asimanand to a CBI special cell during the custody period. The court said that it would decide on the request on Monday, and ordered that the accused be shifted to Chanchalguda central jail.

Swamy Asimanand is facing charges under Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and other charges.

The CBI had already arrested Lokesh Sharma and Devender Gupta in connection to the bomb blast on May 18th, 2007, which left 9 worshippers dead on that fateful Friday, while 5 others were killed in police firing on protestors who gathered outside the Mecca Masjid.

The bomb blast not only jolted the Muslim community, but also the entire nation.

A case, under various sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, was registered on June 9th, 2007, against unidentified persons.

The CBI has so far added the names of 5 persons as accused in the case.

Courtesy: INN