NIA on Friday told a special court that suspected Indian Mujahideen (IM) terrorists Tehsin Akhtar and Zia-Ur-Rahman are “still conspiring” to carry out terror strikes at various prominent places in India, especially the national capital, with the aid of Pakistan-based handlers.
However, the probe agency, which sough extension of the investigation period from 90 days to 180 days, did not elaborate as to how the two accused, who have been under the custody of NIA, NIA’s Hyderabad unit and Special Cell of Delhi Police since their arrest in March this year, were “still” conspiring to commit terrorist acts.
National Investigation Agency (NIA) also informed District Judge I S Mehta that they have sent letters rogatory (LRs) to Nepal for collection of reliable evidence against the IM men and contacted competent authorities in the UAE as the accused used to receive money from there for terror acts.
“Both these accused (Tehsin and Rahman) had and are still conspiring to commit terrorist acts by making preparation for targeting various prominent places in India especially the national capital, Delhi,” the agency told the court in its plea seeking extension of period of investigation against them to 180 days.
During the hearing, Tehsin and Zia-Ur-Rahman, a Pakistani national, were produced in the special court after they were brought to Delhi from Hyderabad by NIA’s Hyderabad unit.
Both the accused were taken to Hyderabad by NIA for their interrogation in connection with twin blasts near Konark and Venkatadiri theatres in Dilsukhnagar area of Hyderabad that claimed 16 lives on February 21 last year.
Meanwhile, the court sent Tehsin and Zia-Ur-Rahman alias Waqas to judicial custody till August 14 and fixed NIA’s plea for arguments tomorrow.
The NIA, in its three-page application, told the court that during the investigation, “it has also come into picture that the said accused persons are functioning with the aid and support from Pakistan-based operatives.”
Seeking extension of period of investigation, the agency said letters rogatory have been sent to Nepal and “further collection of evidence needs more time as such an exercise of sending LRs to foreign country is very time consuming….”
It said that during the probe, it was revealed that these accused used to receive money from UAE for carrying out terror acts in India.
“The investigating authority is trying tooth and nail to identify the sender of the money and for that purpose, the matter is being taken up with the competent authority of UAE,” it said.
It said that the agency was trying very hard to complete the investigation in a speedy manner.
