Even as the ATS is interrogating two Americans from Navi Mumbai, for their alleged role in sending a threat e-mail minutes before  the serial blasts in Ahmedabad, investigators have unearthed a direct link between Navi Mumbai and the terrorist attack.

The Ahmedabad police found two cars with Maharashtra registration plates from the blast sites. Further investigations revealed that the cars were from Navi Mumbai and were stolen earlier in the month.

According to an investigating officer, the bombers were present in Navi Mumbai at least 20 days before the blasts. He added that a Wagon R and a Maruti 800 were reported stolen on July 8 and July 15 from Navi Mumbai. The perpetrators used fake Gujarat number plates on the stolen vehicles.

Direct link

Ahmedabad Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh said, "The blast has a direct connection with Navi Mumbai. There are certain clues like the source of the e-mail and the stolen vehicles."

"We have shared the information with Mumbai's ATS and they are investigating the matter," he added.


No clean chit for detained US national

The new revelation in the Ahmedabad serial blasts has compounded the woes for US national Ken Haywood. Haywood was detained by the ATS in connection with the threat e-mail sent to TV  channels minutes before the blasts.

According to Additional Commissioner of Police (ATS), Param Bir Singh, "We have discovered that of the four cars used in the serial blasts in Gujarat, three were stolen from Navi Mumbai. We are verifying the details of the stolen cars."

He added, "Initially, the IP address was traced to Navi Mumbai, and then the information about the cars has created more suspicion. Haywood will not get a clean chit until the matter is investigated thoroughly."

Of the three cars, two were stolen from Navi Mumbai earlier this month, and one, registered in the name of Raj Oberoi, from Vashi.