Court rejects bail plea of Abdul Samad Bhatkal

Mumbai, Jun 1 (PTI) A local court Tuesday rejected the
bail plea of Abdul Samad Bhatkal, a prime suspect in the Pune
German Bakery blast, saying that since the probe was on, it
would not be safe to release him.
23-year-old Samad sought bail soon after he was
remanded in judicial custody till June 14 by Metropolitan
Magistrate M V Morale in connection with a 2009 arms seizure
case.
He wanted bail on the grounds that there were no
serious allegations against him, and that three other accused,
who were arrested in the arms case last year, were already out
on bail.
The court rejected the bail application stating that
investigations were still in progress and releasing the
accused now would not be safe.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had
arrested Samad from Mangalore city in south India, did not
seek his further custody and told the court that he may be
remanded in judicial custody.
Although ATS has not named Samad in the February 13
Pune blast case, India's Home Minister P C Chidambaram had
soon after his arrest last month said that he was a prime
suspect in the attack, which left 17 people dead.
Samad was arrested from Mangalore on May 24 for
allegedly supplying fire arms to three other accused last
year.
In August 2009, three persons were arrested from South
Mumbai for possession of illegal firearms which, according to
the ATS, were supplied by Samad. PTI