HYDERABAD: (AMN) The Central bureau of investigation (CBI) investigating 2007 Makkah Masjid bomb blast and related terror activities across the country on Saturday began interrogation of Swami Asimanand who is said to be mastermind behind the terror acts.
CBI sleuths took him into their custody from Chanchalguda Central jail here.
Earlier Asimanand, an accused of Makkah Masjid blast was given in CBI custody for seven days by a local court here.
CBI wanted 15-day custody of the Swami but the additional chief metropolitan magistrate directed CBI to interrogate Asimanand for seven days beginning on Saturday.
Swamy Asimanand whose real name is Naba Kumar Sarkar was arrested in Haridwar on November 19 after much effort by different investigating agencies including CBI.
Altogether 9 persons were killed and several others injured in the Makkah Masjid blast and police firing that followed it on May 18, 2007.
The CBI sought custody of Swami, who is in judicial remand till Nov 30 and lodged in a special cell at the Chanchalguda central prison here, for interrogation.
The court directed the prison authorities to hand over Asimanand to CBI. It asked the investigating officer not to use third degree methods against him and interrogate in the presence of his advocate.
The magistrate directed the CBI to provide medical aid to Asimanand, if necessary, and submit medical report after end of the custody period as the defense had stated that the accused was suffering from neurological problems.
The arrest of Swamy is seen as major success in the fight against the so called saffron terror.
The CBI has so far named five persons, all allegedly having links with saffron terror group, as accused in the case and brought two Ajmer blast accused, Devender Gupta and Lokesh Sharma to Hyderabad on June 17, as part of investigation into the Masjid case. Gupta and Sharma are presently under judicial remand.
