Seizure of explosives: Cops to probe conspiracy angle

Police produced Khatri in court on Friday and sought an extension of his custody for seven days. The crime branch had arrested Khatri on September 17 near Hotel Ambience on Kalewadi Road and allegedly seized about one kg of explosives,eight detonators,three countrymade revolvers,a pistol and live cartridges from his car.

Interestingly,Khatri’s counsel Sushil Mancharkar also told the court that his police custody should be extended. Judicial Magistrate (first class) extended custody till October 26. Police told the court that they had no substantial information on how and from where the explosives and firearms had come. Police said his claim that it was a political conspiracy needs to be probed.

Police also submitted to the court that extension of Khatri’s custody was required to question persons who had come in contact with Khatri on and before the day he was arrested. Police said his phone call details are being looked into.

Mancharkar said he was also in favour of his client’s police custody. “At this stage,police custody is essential for investigations to go on properly.”

“There were two persons at the spot whom the police should detain and question in presence of Khatri to make things clear. The political conspiracy angle needs to be probed,” Mancharkar told mediapersons.

Mancharkar also raised doubts on persons who had informed police about explosives. “The informer should be traced. It should be investigated as to why the informer had contacted Unit I of the crime branch when the incident happened in the jurisdiction of Unit III,” he said.

On Wednesday,Khatri’s wife Sarita had held a press conference demanding a probe by the ATS or CBI. Sarita had said police should check fingerprints on the boot of the car. “Police should interrogate persons who called my husband to hotel Ambience before the explosives were recovered. Police should also interrogate persons who informed them about the explosives,” she said.