Court grants custody of 2 IM suspects to Bangalore police

Additional Sessions Judge Santosh Snehi Mann directed Tihar jail authorities here to grant the custody of Salman and Shahzad, facing charges of being involved in cases relating to September 13, 2008 serial blasts here, to Bangalore police.

The Bangalore police sought custody of the duo for their alleged involvement in the case registered with Cubbon Park police station in connection with the blasts that took place in M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

"It is deemed just and proper to allow the application for custody of the two accused Salman and Shahzad," the court said, adding if the custody of the accused was granted, it would not hamper the trial.

The court took into consideration the plea of an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Bangalore city, which submitted that the case is pending investigation and important evidence may get lost or destroyed due to delay as custodial interrogation of both the accused is essential.

The Bangalore Police sought custody of the duo on a production warrant issued by the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate there on October 15.

ASJ Mann also directed the Bangalore Police to produce the accused in the court here on November one.

Two low-intensity explosions near Chinnaswamy cricket stadium less than an hour before an IPL match on April 17 had left 15 persons, including five security men, injured.

The court here is at present hearing arguments on charges to be framed against 14 suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists, including Salman and Shahzad, for allegedly carrying out serial blasts in the national capital on September 13, 2008, that had claimed 26 lives and left 135 others injured.