Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Even as the Delhi Police continue to interrogate Syed Zabiuddin alias Abu Jundal, arrested in connection with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, it has come to light that the LeT terrorist had stayed at the Mumbai residence of a Maharashtra minister way back in 2009.
When Jundal had stayed at her government accommodation in 2009, Minister of State for Education Fauzia Khan was then a Member of Legislative Council (MLC).
Reacting to the allegation, Fauzia Khan said that many people stay at her government accommodation and it was not possible for her to be aware of the credentials of every one of them.
She added that she would provide full cooperation to the investigating agencies.
The revelation came on a day when the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is likely to take custody of and question Abu Jundal, who was arrested by Delhi Police from the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on June 21 on his arrival from Saudi Arabia. He was remanded to police custody for 15 days by a Delhi court on the same day.
Today, Mumbai Police also moved the Tis Hazari court seeking Jundal’s transit remand to bring him to Mumbai to stand trial in 26/11 case. The court has sought Delhi Police’s response on the plea by their Mumbai counterparts. The court gave the Delhi Police a day’s time.
Soon after the arrest of Jundal became public, a Mumbai court had yesterday issued a production warrant against him.
The Delhi Police are also likely to seek an extension of remand of Abu Jundal when his custody ends on July 5.
Sources in Delhi Police said Jundal's role was being examined in the larger conspiracy behind the Jama Masjid attack in 2010, a fortnight ahead of the Commonwealth Games, to "avenge" the Batla House encounter in which suspected Indian Mujahideen operatives were killed.
Jundal has admitted to playing an active role in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He has told the Delhi Police during interrogation that he had worked in close coordination with terror mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi.
During his interrogation, Jundal confessed to his role in the country's worst terror attack and admitted that he was present in the Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) control room in Karachi and was giving direction to the 10 terrorists who carried out the strike.
Jundal took a particular name and his specific task in executing the 26/11 attack. The interrogators suspect that this person was an ISI officer who was closely involved in executing the terror strike.
After November 26, 2008, Jundal, a native of Beed district in Maharashtra, stayed in Pakistan for sometime before leaving to Saudi Arabia where he was working as a teacher.
He has at least 10 aliases and the first tip-off about his presence in Saudi Arabia was given by a terrorist who was arrested in connection with the Jama Masjid blast. Jundal also stayed for sometime in Bangladesh.
Sources said Jundal's voice sample is being sent for matching with those which were intercepted by the security agencies during the attack.
The sources said foreign intelligence agencies have helped to track down Jundal, who was wanted in several terror cases in Delhi, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Also today, Pakistan offered India counter-terrorism cooperation in the backdrop of the arrest of Abu Jundal.
(With PTI inputs)
First Published: Tuesday, June 26, 2012, 09:35