Mohammed Altaf Ismail, the main conspirator in the Ghatkopar bomb blast of December 2, was deported by Dubai last night. An Indian Airlines flight brought Altaf to Mumbai's international airport at 11.30 p.m. where he was taken into police custody. DCP Pradeep Sawant of the Crime Branch confirmed that Altaf was now with the Mumbai police. He is likely to be produced in the designated POTA court at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon where the police will seek his remand.
Altaf had gone to Dubai on October 21, alongwith another conspirator, Imran Reheman Khan, after organising the blast operation. The plan is suspected to have been hatched by Saudi-based Lashkar-E-Toiba operative Abu Hamza, who is the main accused in the case.
Altaf's deportation was subsequent
to the gunning down of top Dawood aide Sharad Shetty in Dubai last week.
Following the incident, the Dubai authorities had decided to take action
against Indian expatriates suspected to be having criminal antecedents.