RSS leader is named suspect in Ajmer blast

Indresh Kumar denies charge, calls it a 'political conspiracy'

Senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar was present when the conspiracy to carry out a blast at Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti's shrine in Ajmer was hatched, according to the chargesheet in the case. He has denied the charges.

However, Kumar has not been named as accused in the chargesheet filed by the Rajasthan Police's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in an Ajmer court on Friday. Five supporters of radical Hindu group Abhinav Bharat have been held responsible for the Oct 11 (2007) blast in which three people were killed and 30 injured.

"Further investigations are required, but he seems to have been a conspirator," an ATS source said.

Speaking to Sunday MiD-DAY, Kumar said, "I don't have anything to do with the blast and the chargesheet is a political conspiracy against me with the help of investigating agencies." He also told a news channel that the RSS did not believe in violence and that he would approach the court for justice.

The ATS has charged Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Chander Shekhar Lave, Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangre with murder, attempt to murder, conspiracy, harming or defiling place of worship and other crimes. Gupta, Sharma and Lave are in judicial custody while Dange and Kalsangre are absconding. Another accused, Sunil Joshi, died during the course of investigation.

The 806-page chargesheet says the conspiracy was hatched during a meeting held in room number 26 of Gujarati Samaj Guesthouse situated near MI Road in Jaipur on Oct 21, 2005. The accused had checked in under false names. Kumar was allegedly present at the secret meeting in which six other functionaries of the outfit were also present. "Indresh suggested that they attach themselves to some religious organisation so that they can pass themselves off as pilgrims," the chargesheet says.

Swami Asinanand of Abhinav Bharat Sangthan and Sadhvi Pragya of Jai Vande Matram Sangthan were also present at the meeting where the conspiracy was hatched and different tasks were assigned to some of the conspirators, the ATS said, adding that the bombs were made in Indore and the area where they were to be planted were identified in a meeting held in Dang area of Gujarat between February 11 and 13, 2007.

IANS, with inputs from Ranjeet Jadhav