MCOCA court discharges IM operative Sadiq Shaikh leaving Crime Branch red faced
MCOCA court discharges IM operative Sadiq Shaikh leaving Crime Branch red faced
The discharge of Mohammed Sadiq Shaikh (33), an alleged Indian Mujahideen (IM) founder member, in the 7/11 serial blasts case, has further aggravated the strained relations between the Crime Branch and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
The Crime Branch had made a startling revelation in October last year, when they claimed that Sadiq was the mastermind behind the 7/11 train blasts. He had confessed to the Crime Branch that he was instrumental in carrying out serial blasts in the country since 2005, including Delhi, Mumbai and Varanasi. However, the ATS refuted the claim and stated that Sadiq was making 'misleading' statements. A special MCOCA court discharged Sadiq, owing to lack of evidence yesterday.
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Soon after his arrest in October last year, Sadiq had revealed to Crime Branch sleuths that he and his accomplices had planned and executed the 7/11 blasts in 2006. Not only did he name his accomplices, but also the modus operandi and the details of his handlers from across the border. A video of his confession was also aired by a news channel earlier this year.
While the ATS had been rubbishing his claim from day one, the confessional statements of the IM accused, including that of Sadiq, were produced in the court last month.
Sadiq has clearly stated in his confession (see box) that on the instructions of Amir Raza (founder member of IM), he carried out several blasts in the country between 2005 and 2008, including the blasts in Delhi, Varanasi and the Mumbai serial train blasts.
ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi said, 'We have investigated the case and found that he (Sadiq) is in no way involved in the 7/11 train blasts. We had investigated the case as the Crime Branch had intimated about his role. He had stated before the Crime Branch about his involvement in the train blasts, but his role was never found in our investigation.'
Though the court's verdict yesterday has left the Crime Branch red faced, their morale is still upbeat. Rakesh Maria, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch), said, 'Even if he is discharged in this case, he will still remain behind bars, and face the charges in other blast cases.'
Excerpts from confession
...After some members returned after receiving training from Pakistan, Amir Raza asked me to give them work to execute. With the help of Riyaz Bhatkal, Arif Badar, Aatif, Dr Shahnawaz and others, I executed the blasts in Govindpuri (Delhi), Sankat Mochan temple (Varanasi), and Mumbai train blasts. These blasts were carried out on the instructions of Amir Raza...
Crime Branch theory
The Crime Branch said that Sadiq along with four IM members had come to Mumbai, 15 days before the train blasts and left immediately after executing them. They also claimed to have found the flat where the bombs were manufactured in Sewree.
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ATS theory
The ATS arrested 13 people and charged them with executing the 7/11 blasts. An 11,000-page charge sheet was submitted in 2006, which also named 15 Pakistani nationals (absconding) as accused in the case. According to the ATS, the bombs were made in Govandi and carried to Churchgate in taxis.
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