2002 Ghatkopar blast accused in cop custody
Shaikh's lawyers Mubin Solkar and Yaqub Shaikh opposed this application, saying that Shaikh was picked up only on suspicion.
Mumbai: A special Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) court on Thursday remanded Yahya Khan alias Abdul Rehman Shaikh (43) in police custody till August 13 in the 2002 Ghatkopar blast case. The Gujarat ATS had arrested Khan on Tuesday from Aurangabad then handed him over to the Mumbai crime branch.
The ATS Gujarat arrested Shaikh from Aurangabad from a doctor's clinic. According to the ATS, they were trying to trace some other accused, but found Shaikh who was wanted in the 2002 Ghatkopar blast case. They nabbed him and handed him over to the Mumbai police.
On Thursday the Mumbai crime branch produced Shaikh before the special POTA court and sought his remand. The police told the court that Shaikh has been arrested in a 16-year-old case and they need time to probe his role in the blasts so that his remanded in police custody.
Shaikh's lawyers Mubin Solkar and Yaqub Shaikh opposed this application, saying that Shaikh was picked up only on suspicion. The lawyers argued that Shaikh was at his residence in Aurangabad all these years and he used to visit travel for work but he is not wanted or ever summoned by the police. Advocate Solkar argued that it's a 16-year-old case and has been thoroughly investigated and hence there is no need to remand Shaikh in police custody. However, special judge V. S. Padalkar observed that chance should be given to the investigating agency to probe the matter and remanded Shaikh in police custody.