The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a supplementary chargesheet on Thursday against Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and aide Asadullah Akhtar with a case of alleged conspiracy to carry out terror acts in the country.
The supplementary chargesheet was filed before the court of district judge IS Mehta who posted the matter for February 24 for taking cognisance on the final report.
According to court sources, Bhatkal and Akhtar have been listed in the chargesheet under various sections of the IPC, including 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging war against the country), 121-A (conspiracy to wage war) and under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The sources also said NIA has defined the roles of Bhatkal and Akhtar in the entire conspiracy of the IM to carry out the terror activities.
Bhatkal is alleged to have been involved in the 2010 Pune Gernam Bakery blast and is reported to have planted the bombs himself. 17 people were killed in the attack.
NIA had filed its first chargesheet against IM in July last year.
The IM is under the scanner for a host of terror attacks in India. The blast outside a stadium in Bangalore in 2010 just before a cricket match is said to be one of them. It is also under the scanner for Dilsukhnagar blasts of Hyderabad and the Bodh Gaya serial blasts.
Bhatkal was arrested by the NIA from the Indo-Nepal border on August 29 last year. Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde confirmed the news the next day. Another IM leader Asadullah Akhtar alias Haddi was also picked up along with 30-year-old Bhatkal.
Bhatkal’s real name is Ahmed Siddibappa and he was one of the most wanted men in India. He was the only IM founder member who was operating in the country, with his brothers and founder members of IM, Riaz and Iqbal Bhatkal, having fled to Pakistan.
