Ahmedabad, May 28: A metropolitan court today extended CBI custody of four "ISI" agents, alleged to have aided Hyderabad-based sharp-shooter Asghar Ali in murder of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya, till June two. The four "ISI" agents --Mohd Pervez Abdul Kayum Sheikh, Mohd Riaz Alias Goru, Rehan Abdul Majid Punthawala and Mohd Yunus Sareshwala-- were remanded to CBI custody by chief metropolitan magistrate N B Raneksha.
CBI counsel S M Parmar submitted that the accused were totally uncooperative and their replies were vague and evasive during interrogation by the investigating agency. They are not revealing several vital facts in the case, he said.
Parmar said further remand was necessary as Pandya's murder was a deep-rooted conspiracy and that the CBI has still to recover empty cartridges, electronic gadgetary, mobile phones and two more motorcycles used in the crime.
The Gujarat government has slapped Pota on these four persons and six others for their alleged involvement in the "major conspiracy to foment large scale terrorist activities in Gujarat, including assassination of top political leaders and industrialists, apparently to avenge post-Godhra communal riots that rocked the state last year."
Bureau Report