Is Aseemanand the mastermind of 'Hindu terror?'

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the Ajmer and Hyderabad Mecca Masjid blasts, say that their case will not be complete unless they lay their hands on Swami Aseemanand -- who is believed to be the leader of Hindu right wing groups carrying out subversive activities in the country.

"While we continue to probe all angles relating to this case, the name that has been cropping up the most is that of Swami Aseemanand," sources told rediff.com.

Although his connection cropped first in connection with the Malegaon blast case, investigators believe that he was in the know of the blasts at Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad and Ajmer. The security agencies have the godman telephonic conversations with Sadhvi Pragya Singh, a prime accused arrested for her alleged role in the Malegaon case, they said.

Prior to the blasts at Malegaon, the swami had made a call to the sadhvi and the Mumbai Anti Terrorism Squad has a recording of this conversation.

The investigators have also managed to get a lot of information on meetings between the two prior to the Malegaon blasts.

According to investigators, Aseemanand who originally hails from West Bengal left that place since he was upset with the Communist regime there. He then took shelter in Gujarat and over the years turned into a godman. During the various meetings with hardliners from the Hindu community, he discussed with them the 'growing menace of Islamic terrorism.'

During one of these meetings he met Sadhvi Pragya Singh who shared similar views and they decided that the only way to curb this violence was through violence.

Investigators say he is the key. They believe that he is like a father-figure to the likes of Davendra and Chandrashkar, prime suspects in the Goa, Ajmer and Hyderabad blasts. The CBI has been questioning the duo about the whereabouts of Aseemanand and the due said they last heard that he was in Gujarat.

The investigators believe that he may have shifted base now since they were unable to track him down. However, they believe that he shares an extremely good rapport with the tribals in the Dangs district where he has been taking up re-conversion programmes.

The investigating agency also firmly believes that the godman had played an important role in funding these attacks. He had a lot of funds coming in for his ashram and a major part of it could have been diverted to carry out subversive activities.