The National Investigation Agency (NIA) detained and questioned a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker from Shivamogga, Karnataka, in connection with the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, according to sources reported by India Today TV on Friday. Alongside the BJP worker, the NIA also questioned a mobile shop owner.
In a statement, the NIA mentioned that it has been summoning and examining all acquaintances, including friends from college and school, of both absconding and arrested accused persons to gather evidence and information.
The NIA conducted raids last week on the residences of two suspects, Abdul Matheen Taahaa and Mussavir Hussain, as well as on a mobile store in Shivamogga. These raids were conducted after the arrest and interrogation of Muzammil Shareef, another key suspect, on March 28.
During these raids, the investigative agency discovered that the phone used by Muzamil to contact Mussavir and Taahaa originally belonged to a local BJP worker in Shivamogga named Sai Prasad.
Upon questioning, it was revealed that Sai Prasad had sold his old phone to a mobile shop owner, who subsequently sold it to Muzammil, as per sources familiar with the matter.
Meanwhile, the Congress criticized the BJP over the detention of Sai Prasad in Karnataka. Congress leader Dinesh Gundu Rao raised questions about the BJP's involvement in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, pointing to the detention of a BJP worker by the NIA.
The Rameshwaram Cafe blast, which occurred on March 1, resulted in injuries to ten individuals. The low-intensity bomb blast was triggered using an IED bomb with a timer at a popular cafe in Bengaluru.
Last week, the NIA announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh each for sharing information leading to the arrest of two key accused individuals in the Bengaluru cafe blast case. The agency requested public assistance in locating Mussavir Hussain Shazib and Abdul Matheen Ahmed Taahaa, both wanted in connection with the case.
