NIA gets top IM operatives' custody for Hyderabad blast probe

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) A court here Friday handed over the custody of top Indian Mujahideen suspects Tehsin Akhtar alias Monu and Pakistani national Waqas alias Zia-ur-Rehman to the NIA team conducting a probe in 2013 blasts in Hyderabad's Dilsukhnagar.

According to sources, National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Judge I.S. Mehta allowed the investigating agency's plea seeking three days' transit remand of the duo in connection with 2013 blasts in Dilsukhnagar of Hyderabad.

"Both the accused are allowed to be taken to NIA special court, Nampally, Hyderabad, and both accused persons are given on three days' transit remand to NIA, Hyderabad, and hee is directed to produce them before the said court and thereafter he is further directed to produce both the accused persons before this court after completion of investigation...," the court said.

Defence counsel Akram Khan opposed the plea, saying there was no evidence to connect Tehsin and Waqas with the Dilsukhnagar blasts case and alleged that the investigating agency was trying to create evidence against the accused by forcing them to make confessional statements.

Waqas, arrested in March, is allegedly involved in several terror attacks, including the serial blasts in Mumbai in July 2011. Tehsin was arrested by Delhi Police after Waqas's arrest.

Tehsin, the outlawed Indian Mujahideen's current chief of Indian operations, is an expert in bomb-making.