13/7 blasts: MHA does a U-turn, supports ATS

New Delhi: A day after a press conference by the Maharashtra ATS chief sparked off a controversy over a possible rift with the Delhi Police over the 13/7 Mumbai blasts probe, the Ministry of Home Affairs came out to bury the hatchet. Home Secretary RK Singh said on Tuesday that although the suspect arrested (Naqee Ahmed) may have been a Delhi Police informer, it did not rule out his involvement in the blasts.

"I am happy that the ATS has cracked the case. Naqee was a Delhi Police informer. But that doesn’t preclude him from being a bomber," said Singh.

After playing referee between the Delhi Police and the ATS for the last few days, it seems the MHA has finally decided to go with the ATS’ version of the 13/7 blasts.

Home Secy RK Singh said on Tuesday that although Naqee Ahmed was a Delhi Police informer, it did not rule out his involvement in the blasts.

Meanwhile, Naqee's family in Delhi said Naqee had gone to Mumbai with the Delhi Police’s Special Cell to assist them in their investigations into the case.

Taquee, Naqee Ahmed’s brother, said, "My brother is innocent. The Special Cell has assured us that Naqee is innocent. They only wanted to take Naqee’s help in reaching the two accused in the Mumbai blasts case. He had never met Shahrukh (Yasin Bhatkal) before."

The ATS, meanwhile, confirmed that its reported rift with the Delhi Police and the subsequent arrest of Naqee Ahmed was a closed chapter for them.

Both the forces are now working together on the Malegaon and German bakery blast cases.

The ATS had to go back on its initial arrest and investigations in the two cases, and it is this track record which it now seems determined to set right.

Even though the Home Secretary has congratulated the ATS, it does seem like the last word on the matter is yet to be said. Both the Delhi Police and the ATS have been asked by the MHA to submit reports on what really happened between the two forces as they carried their investigations. It seems that only further probe will establish if the right men have been arrested in the Mumbai 13/7 blasts case.

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