Malegaon blast suspect arrested

He was arrested in Gokak late Monday and a hunt is on to trace two other accused –– Ramji Kalsangra and Sandeep Dange –– who are still at large.

Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil told Deccan Herald that he would be produced in the concerned court after interrogation by the Maharashtra ATS.

Along with Maharashtra ATS, the district police too was investigating the case and more details were awaited regarding his connections with any other group and involvement in any other activities here, he said.

Takkalki’s first name was doing the rounds for over a month and had raised suspicions about many others with similar names and associated with some organisations. His arrest has put all speculations to rest.

The latest development takes the total number of arrests in the Malegaon blast case to 12, including key accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and Lt Col S P Purohit.

Seven people were killed and many injured when a powerful bomb ripped through the minority-dominated Malegaon in Nashik district on Sept 29, 2008. Subsequent ATS investigations pointed to the involvement of Hindu extremist groups.