We are not after any political leader from UP: ATS

Dayanand Pandey, a godman picked up in Kanpur in connection with Malegaon blast played a key role in hatching conspiracy of the incident, the Maharashtra ATS said.

"Pandey played an important role in the conspiracy of the blast and attended several meetings prior to the blast along with Purohit and other accused in Nashik and Madhya Pradesh," ATS chief Hemant Karkare said.

He, however, said it is yet to be ascertained if Pandey is a former Army officer or what his profession is.

Karkare said they are not "after any political leader from Uttar Pradesh" and no serving army officer except Lieutenant Colonel Srikant Prasad Purohit has been questioned in Malegaon blast case.

"No ATS official has been sent to Gorakhpur in UP and the ATS is not after any political leader there," Karkare told mediapersons in Mumbai  against the backdrop of reports that a saffron leader was under the police scanner in connection with Malegaon blast.

"Till now, the role of the nine arrested accused is being probed only in the Malegaon blast. As the investigation unfolds, their role in other blasts will also be looked into," Karkare said.

The ATS along with the UP police today held Dayanand Pandey alias Sudhakar Dwivedi, who will be brought to Mumbai, after preliminary investigations, Karkare said.