Click to play videoNew Delhi: A second Hindu spiritual leader will be questioned in connection with the blasts in Malegaon town of Maharashtra on September 29.
Sources in the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of the Maharashtra Police, which is investigating the blasts, say the spiritual leader is from Uttar Pradesh.
A Nashik court has granted permission to the ATS to question the leader, who is affiliated with a Hindu organisation.
As many as eight persons are under arrest in connection with the blasts. The most high profile suspects are Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, a Hindu spiritual leader, and Lt Col. Shrikant Purohit, the first serving officer of the Indian Army to be arrested in connection with a terror attack.
The other accused include Shivnarayan Singh Kalsangram, Shyam Bhawarlal Sahu, Major (retd) Ramesh Shivaji Upadhyay, Sameer Kulkarni, Rakesh Dattaram Dhawade and Ajay Rahirkar.
All the accused are allegedly members or supporters of Abhinav Bharat, a right wing Hindu group.
Rahirkar was allegedly the funds manager of the organiser and reportedly transferred Rs 10.7 lakh through hawala transactions to finance the blasts.
Rahikar allegedly transferred lakhs of money into the accounts of Lt Colonel Purohit, Dhawade, Kulkarni and Upadhyay
Investigators also say also that over Rs 70,000 was seized in cash from the Rahirkar's residence apart from other legal documents of Abhinav Bharat.
The ATS is also exploring how much Lt Col Purohit was involved in the money transactions. They have asked the Army to check if any amount of military funds is unaccounted for during the Lt Col's posting with the Military Intelligence department.
Dhawade is another key accused who is now charged with being involved in the Purna, Jalna, Parbhani and Nanded blasts. Aurangabad ATS now has him in custody for further investigations.
He is charged with providing logistical support to as many as 54 activists participating in a 2003 camp held at Sinhagad Fort.
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