Revealed: Godman's links with Lt Col Purohit

Self-styled godman Dayanand Pandey has emerged as one of the key persons in the Malegaon blast case. During his narco analysis test, he had revealed that it was sadhvi Pragya Singh who had allegedly masterminded the Malegaon blasts to hit back at the Students Islamic Movement of India who she thought had killed her friend, Sunil Joshi.

Exclusive: Why Malegaon blast was carried out

He also mentions during the test that he had introduced the sadhvi to Lt Col Purohit who in turn allegedly helped in undertaking the attack. The question now is how did Pandey get in touch with Purohit and what is the association between these two men.

During the test conducted on Pandey at Bangalore last week, he goes on to explain as to how he got in touch with Purohit. In a state of trance, Pandey reveals that while working for the Indian Air Force, he got in touch with Purohit who was in the military intelligence at that time.

He said both of them came close as they worked in the Marathwada region.

However, Pandey was sacked from service due as he had committed some irregularities. Later, he went on to start an ashram. He reveals that that in the ashram, he sheltered several boys. Investigating agencies claim that some of the boys were anti social elements and used to work for Pandey.

Purohit, however, continued his association with Pandey and used the latter's help to gather information about SIMI activists. During their several meetings, Pandey and Purohit discussed at length SIMI's activities. Both were in fact upset that SIMI continued to torment the nation with innumerable strikes and worse, the government was not acting upon this, Pandey revealed during the test.

Pandey states that, in the meantime, sadhvi Pragya had also approached him seeking help to strike against SIMI as they had killed her friend Sunil Joshi. Joshi is the same man, the sadhvi claims she sold her two-wheeler to. The same two-wheeler was used in the Malegaon blasts, which claimed six lives.

Pandey states that he got to know of Pragya after she had taken sanyas. She always looked up to him as a father figure and a mentor, he claims.

The self-styled godman says this was when the plan was hatched to carry out a strike. Since Purohit too was upset with the SIMI, he introduced him to the Sadhvi and decided that it would be a combined operation. According to Pandey, the plan was hatched and each one was assigned a different role.

While Pandey coordinated the attack, Sadhvi was in charge of planting the bombs while Purohit took care of assembling the bombs and arranging the explosives, Pandey further revealed to a startled investigating team.

Pandey says that Purohit, who was familiar with the activities of SIMI and their expertise to make bombs, got in touch with them for the Malegaon operation.

Purohit too had revealed during his narco analysis test that he had sought the help of local persons in Malegaon to assemble the bombs. The army officer said he threatened them and also lured them with money to assemble the bombs as they were reluctant at first.

Pandey says that members of the SIMI were used to assemble the bombs as they had expertise in the same.

Although the tests conducted on both Purohit and Pandey indicate exactly as to how the Malegaon blasts were planned there is still a bit of confusion over the procurement of the material used to make the bombs.

While the version that Purohit smuggled it out from the army base is a highly unbelievable one, there is also talk that the material was brought in from Jammu and later stored in Pune. The Mumbai Anti Terrorist Squad is investigating this angle too.