Mumbai, Nov 26: The Anti-Terrorist Squad on Wednesday said its failure to get police custody of Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur among other accused in the Malagaon blast case from the MCOCA court is a setback which will slow down the investigation.
"Police custody would have helped investigations to proceed faster but still we will see how best to deal with it in a legal way," ATS Chief Hemant Karkare told a TV channel.
When asked about criticism levelled by BJP leaders especially, L K Advani's outbursts against the agency, Karkare said "when allegations are made anyone will feel hurt."
The ATS chief rejected charges of torture inflicted on Sadhvi during police custody.
"We are going by the copy book. We are producing the accused in court whenever orders for the same are issued by the court," Karkare said.
Refuting the allegations of political bias in the probe, the Maharashtra ATS chief said that charges were not true.
"I can give you 100 percent guarantee that there is and has been no political pressure on ATS either individually or on the department," he pointed out.
The ATS has come under fire from BJP and other saffron groups for allegedly acting on the orders of ruling Congress leaders, after some self-styled religious leaders were arrested by the team for alleged involvement in the September 29 Malegaon blast which killed six and left over 100 injured.
Meanwhile, ATS has claimed to have found a video showing Dayanand Pandey, Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur meeting prior to the Malegaon blast.
Malegaon blast accused heard talking about chemicals, hand grenades and detonators on video, ATS said.
After these revelation, the self-styled religious leader and Malegaon blast accused Dayanand Pandey remanded in police custody till December 1 by MCOCA court.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena has called for Maharashtra bandh on Dec 01 in support of Pragya's cause.
ATS searches Purohit's residence
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) unit here today searched the residential premises of the Malegaon blast accused Lt Col Srikant Prasad Purohit, booked under the MCOCA.
"It was a routine search," an ATS officer said but declined to elaborate on the purpose behind the move.
According to sources, it continued for a couple of hours and no family member of Purohit was present during the search.
Bureau Report