NIA quizzed Abu Jundal with it, Special Cell tells court

A Delhi court on Wednesday deferred its decision on the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) plea for the custody of 26/11 key handler Abu Jundal for tomorrow as the Special Cell of city policy told it that the federal agency had interrogated the terrorist jointly with it.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav deferred his decision on the Jundal's custody to NIA even as the agency sought to clarify that the joint interrogation was not in connection with a recent FIR registered by it on June 8 against Jundal and one another person for allegedly amassing explosives to carry out blasts in the country.

The NIA said it had interrogated Jundal in the custody of Delhi police in connection with the case relating to the larger conspiracy behind the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack, involving US national David Coleman Headley.

The NIA made the submission as CMM Yadav, on its plea for Jundal's custody, cited the police statement to it that he was jointly interrogated. The police had made the statement in response to the court's notice on the NIA's plea.

Keeping the NIA's plea pending, the court said it would take up the matter tomorrow when Jundal's custody to the Special Cell expires.

"It might be the case that the Special Cell may seek extension of Jundal's custody tomorrow. So, I will decide your application tomorrow," the judge said.

The NIA had moved the court on June 28 for the custody of Jundal alias Saiyyad Zaibuddin, who is currently being interrogated by the Special Cell of Delhi police.

The NIA had registered the FIR against Jundal and one another person on the basis of a source information that they were in India and were amassing explosive substances like ammonium nitrate for carrying out blasts in the country.

To seek Jundal's custody, the NIA has armed itself with the designated NIA court's order for the same. The agency has sought the CMM's direction for Jundal's production before the designated NIA court on July 6.

Jundal allegedly had trained the ten Pakistani terrorists who had attacked Mumbai on November 26, 2008, besides teaching them basic Hindi and apprising them of Mumbai's topography.

Jundal was arrested from the Indira Gandhi International Airport on June 21 and is in the custody of Delhi police till July 5.

He is in Delhi police custody currently in connection with an FIR registered on November 22, 2011 relating to the arrest of Indian Mujahideen operatives. He is also being interrogated for his involvement in the terror blasts at Delhi Jama Masjid, Pune's German Bakery and Bangalore's Chinnaswamy Stadium.

He has been booked under various provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, the Passport Act and various sections of the IPC.