New Delhi: A special court today extended by seven days NIA custody of Indian Mujahideen’s alleged key operative Abdul Wahid Siddibapa after the agency said his further custodial interrogation was needed in connection with fund transfer to the terror outfit.
32-year-old Siddibapa, a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, was produced before Special Judge Rakesh Pandit, after expiry of his seven days NIA custody.
“NIA submits that the accused has disclosed some facts regarding money transaction. He is likely to be further quizzed… The accused is sent to police custody for 7 days.
He be produced on June 4,” the court said.
While seeking his further remand by 15 days, National Investigating Agency (NIA) told the court that during the interrogation, the accused disclosed that he was the handler in sever transactions through hawala for terror activities.
It submitted that after the disclosure made by Siddibapa, a number of teams have been sent to several spots for verification of fund transactions in places like Mumbai.
It also told the court that several other places including Dubai also needed to be verified in connection with fund transaction and teams will be sent to these places soon.
While opposing the NIA application, defence advocate M S Khan submitted before the court that Siddibapa was earlier apprehended in Dubai in 2014 on request of Indian government and for two months the government could not give any evidence against him, after which he was let off.
“What new evidences you (NIA) have gathered so far after that? The accused should instead be sent to judicial custody,” the counsel said.
Earlier, the NIA had told the court that Siddibapa was in Dubai and had assumed the name of Khan and he was an important cadre of IM organisation for regularly transferring funds from Pakistan to UAE and then to India for terror activities here.