5 reasons why Mirza Baig may not have been responsible for German Bakery blast

The investigation into the German Bakery blast suffered from many lapses and controversies before and even after Baig's arrest. Here are a few of them.

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German Bakery Blast site.

Questions are being raised about the probe by the state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) after the Bombay High Court set aside the death penalty of Mirza Himayat Inayat Baig on March 17. Baig was allegedly the prime conspirator in the German Bakery (GB) blast in Pune on February 13, 2010, which left 17 persons dead and 64 others injured.

However, the investigation into GB blast suffered from many lapses and controversies before and even after Baig’s arrest.

Controversy 1: Arrest of Yasin’s brother and MHA press release

The first controversy erupted after the ATS arrested Abdul Samad, brother of Indian Mujahideen (IM) terror operative Yasin Bhatkal on May 24, 2010 in connection with the August 2009 arms seizure case in Mumbai. However, on May 25, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued a press release quoting then Home Minister P Chidambaram as saying that the ATS Maharashtra with the assistance of Pune police had identified Samad from Bhatkal in Karnataka, as the prime suspect in the Pune blast.

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The Pune police and ATS officers started to congratulate each other. But this episode turned out to be a major embarrassment for the investigation team as Samad was never arrested or even named as an accused in GB blast case. Police sources claimed that a Samad lookalike suspect was seen in a CCTV grab obtained from GB. Investigators now say that it was not Samad but his brother Yasin Bhatkal. During an even Pune on June 2016, the former director general of police D Sivanandan (now retired), slammed the ATS saying, “pehli galti (first mistake) was the terror attack at bakery and dusari galti (second attack) was incorrect investigation.”

Controversy 2: ATS officer said Baig was not in Pune on blast day, later retracted

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A few days after Baig was arrest from Pune on September 7, 2010, then deputy inspector general of police (ATS) Ravindra Kadam told the media in Udgir that Baig was not in Pune on the day of GB blast. Kadam had said that Baig assembled the explosives with Mohsin Choudhary and Yasin Bhatkal at the Global Internet Cafe in Udgir but did travel to Pune. Kadam said that Moshin and Yasin carried the bomb to Pune. Later, Kadam retracted his statement saying it was a misunderstanding on his part and that Baig was in Pune on the day of blast. Meanwhile, Baig claimed that the ATS arrested him from Latur on August 19.

Controversy 3: No proof of Baig’s terror training in Colombo

The ATS chargesheet mentioned that Baig had visited Colombo where LeT operatives Fayyaz Kagzi and Zabiuddin Ansari gave him terror training. Baig’s passport details did show that he had visited Colombo. However, Baig told the court that he went to Colombo to sell Indian readymade garments and perfumes which he had purchased from Kharghar in Mumbai. Baig said he returned to India as he did not earn much and could not get a job in Colombo.

Baig’s laywer argued in the sessions court that the ATS team never visited Colombo and failed to submit any evidence of Baig’s alleged terror training. Investigation officer ACP Vinod Satav (now retired) had said that ATS wrote to Interpol and other intelligence agencies seeking information on the conspiracy hatched by the accused in Colombo. Satav said these letters were submitted to the court. He said ATS did not get any positive reply from these agencies as the “conspiracy took place in 2008 and we sought information about it in 2010.”

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Controversy 4: Baig’s name did not appear in the interrogation of Qateel Siddiqui

Arrest of IM operative Mohammed Qateel Siddiqui in November 2011 by the Delhi police revealed that he had conducted a recce of the German Bakery along with Yasin Bhatkal. Interrogation of Siddiqui by the Delhi police, the Bangalore police and the NIA never pointed at Baig’s involvement in the GB blast. Siddiqui had allegedly planned to bomb the Dagdusheth Ganapati temple on Feburary 13, 2010, the same day the GB blast occurred. The Maharashtra ATS arrested Siddiqui in this case but he was mysteriously murdered by Pune gangster Sharad Mohol in the Yerwada jail in June 2012.

Controversy 5: Baig was seen in Aurangabad on the day of German Bakery blast

During the trial, two witness in the German Bakery case told the court that they had seen Baig in Aurangabad at around 8.30 pm and 10.30 pm on February 13, 2010, the day when GB was bombed. And, an autorickshaw driver who turned out to be a prime witness had deposed that he ferried Yasin and Baig from Pune railway station and dropped him at Central Mall around 4.15 pm on February 13. Then, as per the ATS theory, Yasin went inside the German Bakery and planted the bomb while Baig left for Aurangabad. The ATS believed it was possible for Baig to reach Aurangabad from Pune on a motorbike by 8.30 pm (which is travelling about 235 kms in four hours.)

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More