'Cops have conversation tapes of Malegaon accused'

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil on Thursday said the police was in possession of an audio tape of a conversation of a Malegaon bomb blast accused making derogatory references to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Replying to a debate on law and order in the state assembly, Patil said the conversation also pertains to use of a chemical powder which if applied on footwear would result in death of a person within two to three days.

"Even the post-mortem will not help to find the cause of death," Patil said.

He said that there was a mention in the conversation that Bhagwat is unfit to lead the Hindutva outfit.

All the accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case have links with Abhinav Bharat, a right-wing organisation.

Earlier, participating in the debate, Nationalist Congress Party legislator

Jeetendra Avhad had alleged links between Hindu organizations like Abhinav Bharat, Sanatam Sansthat and Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence.

Avhad charged the right-wing groups of involvement in some blast cases and also of planning to kill the RSS chief.

He wanted to know whether the government would ban the two organisations. Patil said appropriate decision will be taken at the appropriate time.

Opposition members had staged a walkout before the reply protesting for not being allowed to speak during the debate due to shortage of time.

Patil said the accused in Pune's German Bakery bomb blast case were on the police radar and would be soon arrested.

"Investigations are being conducted on war footing in complete co-ordination with central agencies and investigators from other parts of the country," he said.

Patil said he was ready to hand over the Sangli-Miraj communal riots case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The minister said since 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the state government had strengthened its Intelligence Department by directly recruiting personnel in the force.

Earlier, the officials were brought to the department on deputation, he added.