PDP Leader Abdul Nasser Madani arrested in Bengaluru Blasts Case

Ending the eight-day long suspense, PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani was arrested on Tuesday amid big drama from his camp here by the Karnataka Police in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru blast case.

Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Omkarayya, executed the warrant against Madani with the support of Kerala Police shortly after the PDP leader said he would be surrendering in a local magistrate court. As Madani came out in a vehicle from his camp after mid-day prayers, a heavy contingent of Kerala Police in riot gear blocked the vehicle to facilitate the Karnataka officials to effect the arrest.

The police then took charge of the vehicle allowing only Madani’s wife Soofiya and a personal aid to remain with the PDP leader. Kollam SP, Mr Harshita Attalluri, who was leading the Kerala Police team, told reporters gathered in large numbers at the spot that Madani had been arrested by Karnataka Police.

The entire exercise took place without any immediate law and order problem except some slogan shouting by supporters hailing their leader and women and inmates of the orphanage weeping. Madani was taken to Thiruvananthapuram en route to Bengaluru by air so that he could be produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate there this evening itself.

Madani was listed as the 31st accused in an additional chargesheet filed by the police last month after confessions by suspected Lashkar-e-Tayyaba operative T. Nazir linking him to the Bengaluru blasts that left one person dead and 20 others injured. A Karnataka Police team has been camping here for the last eight days waiting for the nod from the local police for the arrest of Madani, whose anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Karnataka High Court on August 3.

Madani had earlier in the day told reporters that he would surrender before a local court on Tuesday afternoon after mid-day prayers with the orphanage inmates. Maintaining that he was falsely implicated in the case as part of “a deep-rooted conspiracy”, Madani said he wanted to surrender as he had faith in the judiciary and also he could record whatever he wanted to say in the court. Madani has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on his arrest in the case.

The PDP leader was also an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blast case in which 58 people were killed and over 200 injured hours before an election meeting to be addressed by senior BJP leader, Mr L.K. Advani. He was acquitted later by the trial court.

Get Updates by eMail: Submit eMail Here