IM operative's judicial custody extended

New Delhi, May 22 (IANS) A court here Thursday extended judicial custody of Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Faizan Ahmed Sultan till June 5.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Judge I.S. Mehta, in an in-camera hearing, extended judicial custody of Sultan, 55, after he was presented before the court on the expiry of his custody.

Sultan was deported from Sharjah to Delhi May 2 by the NIA and brought before a special judge May 3. NIA sources claimed Sultan provided hiding places to the top leadership of the IM since 2008. His name was disclosed by an arrested IM operative and later by IM co-founder Yasin Bhatkal.

Sultan was active in 2008 when the IM carried out a series of bombings in the country. NIA has booked him as an accused in cases of carrying out terror strikes in India.