Accused in Advani bomb plot case seeks CBI probe

An accused in the case of planting a bomb on Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani's yatra route has filed a petition in the Madras high court bench in Madurai, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the matter, alleging that he was falsely implicated in the case.

Hakeem of Jaihindpuram, who moved the court, expressed fear that the police could "resort to extra judicial killing of some accused" to cover up their alleged lacunae in the probe.

He is at present in judicial custody in the Madurai central prison.

When the matter came up, Justice V Ramasubramanian issued a notice to some police officials.

The police had recovered a powerful pipe bomb from under a bridge on October 27 at Alampatti village, nearly 30 km from Madurai, on the route of Advani's Jan Chetna yatra.

Subsequently, the BJP leader's route was diverted. Three persons including Hakeem were arrested in connection with the incident.

Hakeem alleged that soon after the incident, the special investigation team picked him up and tortured him repeatedly. Due to multiple injuries, he had to seek treatment at a government hospital.

Even after producing evidence that he was in Chennai at the time of the incident, he was detained and tortured, Hakeem alleged.

According to Hakeem, 15 cases were registered against him and he had been acquitted in all the 15 cases. He said he was leading a peaceful life as a vegetable vendor.

In the petition, Hakeem said he apprehended danger to his life. The police had implicated him to cover up their failed probe, he alleged and demanded an investigation by the CBI to find out the truth.