Ahmedabad: The city crime branch sleuths have arrested an accused, wanted since nine years in connection with the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case, from Kozhikode in Kerala, a senior official said on Wednesday.
The accused, Shoaib Pottanikal, was arrested by a team of Ahmedabad crime branch sleuths, Kerala police and intelligence officials from Kozhikode soon after he landed at the airport on Tuesday, joint commissioner of police J.K. Bhatt told reporters.
“Shoaib, one of the 18 absconding accused in the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts case, was arrested from Kozhikode airport after he landed there from abroad. He had escaped overseas after the blasts, following which a Red Corner notice was also issued against him,” Mr Bhatt told reporters here.
He said Shoaib knew Sainuddin and Sarfuddin, the two persons arrested for allegedly providing electronic chips used in making bombs for the 2008 blasts, and helped the operatives of Indian Mujahideen and banned outfit SIMI get in touch with them with an intention to make bombs.
Yasin Bhatkal, one of the main accused in the case, had also told the crime branch sleuths about Shoaib's role after he was brought here on a transfer warrant from Tihar jail on March 31 this year, Mr Bhatt said.
Shoaib (49) hails from Malappuram in Kerala where his father has a rice mill. He comes from a well-to-do family, the JCP said.
