Author: Our Bureau
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: December 6, 2014
URL:   http://www.telegraphindia.com/1141206/jsp/bengal/story_2355.jsp#.VIlUxnvkiOW

Cops take possession of key blast accused in theft racket without informing agency

Bidhannagar police took custody of Sajid, the biggest catch in the Burdwan blast case, in connection with a bike theft racket 24 hours before he was to be produced in court today, shocking NIA sleuths probing the explosion.

Lawyers said there was no bar on an investigative agency taking custody of a person lodged in judicial custody. The police's move, however, has evoked another round of allegations of non-cooperation with a central agency.

Sources said the police should have informed the NIA before taking Sajid into custody as the central agency was probing the Burdwan blast case, adding that it would have been the "ethically correct approach". Several NIA officers had alleged non-cooperation by Bengal police in the initial stage of the October 2 blast probe.

Earlier, another central agency - the Enforcement Directorate - had to move court against the state police for their alleged reluctance to share documents related to the Saradha scam. The CBI had given Bengal police an "ultimatum" on submitting documents related to the scandal.

The sources said the NIA came to know that Bengal police had taken custody of Sajid, the suspected point man of the terror outfit Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh in Bengal, when he was not produced in Bankshall Court in connection with the blast case today.

"Seven suspected terrorists were produced in court but Sajid was not among them. There was no response when Sajid's name was called out in the courtroom. After a few seconds of confusion, it became clear that Sajid had not been brought to court and had been taken into custody by Bidhannagar police yesterday in another case," a source said.

Chief judicial magistrate Mohammad Mumtaz Khan then said he had received a memo from Bidhannagar police, informing him that they had got the custody of Sajid from a Barasat court. Sajid has been remanded in Bidhannagar police's custody till December 18.

NIA sources said the central agency's brass was displeased at the police's move. No NIA officer was willing to be quoted but one of them said on condition of anonymity: "This is unfair. Which case is more important - one related to terror or a bike theft racket? We could have got access to Sajid in judicial custody but now that he has been taken by another agency, things will become difficult for us."

Sajid was lodged in Presidency jail before Bidhannagar police took him into their custody.

Earlier this week, NIA sleuths, with court's permission, had taken Sajid and co-accused Abdul Hakim to various places in Murshidabad while probing the blast case. "We were pursuing vital leads. But now, this (Sajid's police custody) is a setback," the officer added.

Bidhannagar police today highlighted the "urgency" of questioning Sajid in connection with the inter-state bike theft racket. Officers said his name cropped up during the interrogation of one Shish Mohammad, who was arrested on October 23 from Jharkhand. Analysing Shish's call records, the police learnt about his alleged links with Sajid, Bidhannagar cops said.

"We want to know more about their link. That is why we took Sajid into custody on December 4 for interrogation. We obtained his custody from the chief judicial magistrate of Barasat court," said Ranendranath Banerjee, deputy commissioner in the Bidhannagar commissionerate.

The police said they had learnt about one Babu Bhai, who used to send money collected from the sale of stolen bikes to Sajid's Malda address.

"We have come to know that Babu Bhai had appointed a middleman to deliver the money to Sajid at one of his Malda addresses," said an officer of the Bidhannagar commissionerate. A raid at the Malda house by Baguiati police two days ago revealed that Sajid had left the place about a year-and-a-half ago. A youth who now lives in the house allegedly used to collect the money and later hand it over to Sajid.

Bidhannagar police have accused Sajid of theft, criminal conspiracy and trespass in the country (Section 14 of the Foreigners' Act).