The missing laptop of Lt Col Prasad Purohit, a key accused in the Malegaon blast case, has been found and is expected to reveal crucial details about involvement of other persons in the conspiracy, police sources said in Mumbai on Thursday.
'You can't plan Malegaon-like operation in a day'
The laptop was initially missing after Purohit's detention from Panchmarhi in Madhya Pradesh. It was believed to contain details of other members of the right-wing group Abhinav Bharat, who could have had a role to play in the Malegaon blast.
It is also believed to contain details of persons who had undergone training in camps organised by Purohit and others, and details of the monetary transactions that were carried out by members of the group, the sources said.
Coverage: Malegaon Blast Aftermath
However, ATS officials refused to comment on the issue saying it was still too early to reveal any details.
They also refused to comment on where the laptop would be taken for forensic analysis.
Authorities at the Kalina Forensic Science Laboratory in suburban Santacruz in Mumbai said they had not yet received the laptop for forensic analysis.
'There is no such thing as Hindu terrorism'
Ten persons have been arrested so far for their alleged involvement in carrying out a blast in Malegaon on September 29 in which six persons were killed and about 80 injured.
One of the arrested in the Malegaon case, Ajay Rahirkar, had allegedly received funds through 'hawala channels', which were then disbursed among others at the behest of Purohit, ATS officials had said.
Investigators hoped to find the details of the transactions in the laptop.
'Politics is being mixed with the army'
Rahirkar, a functionary of the Abhinav Bharat group, had also allegedly supplied money for purchase of six imported weapons to Rakesh Dhawade, who has also been arrested in the Malegaon case.
Dhawade, an expert in guns, has also been arrested for his involvement in the 2004 Jalna blast after evidence emerged of his presence during weapons training provided prior to the blast.
The ATS is also probing the possible involvement of Purohit and other members of the group in previous terror acts like the Nanded blast in 2006 and the Jalna blast.
'There are no communal feelings in the army'
The ATS on Wednesday arrested 'godman' Dayanand Pandey, head of the Sharda Sarvagya Peeth in Jammu, from Kanpur in connection with the Malegaon blast case.
Pandey, who is also known as Sadhu Amritanand, hails from Uttar Pradesh and was residing in Ravatpur village in Kanpur. He was arrested on the basis of photographs and telephone numbers that the ATS was investigating.
The 'godman' is likely to be produced in court in UP after which he will be brought to Mumbai, ATS officials said.
'We are training youth to fight terror'
The ATS had taken permission from a Nasik court on Monday to interrogate Pandey and had said the 'godman' is accused of being part of the conspiracy to carry out the Malegaon blast.
Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the Malegaon blast case, is alleged to have provided the motorcycle used to plant the bomb at Bhiku chowk in the powerloom town.
More from rediff