2009 arms seizure case: Samad Bhatkal's bail plea opposed

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) today opposed the bail plea of Abdul Samad Bhatkal, arrested in the 2009 illegal arms seizure case.

Samad, who has been sent to 14-day judicial custody, had approached the sessions court seeking bail in connection with
the arms case on the grounds that there were no serious
allegations against him.

He is also a suspect in the February 13 Pune blast case.

The ATS, which arrested Samad on May 25 from Mangalore airport, has opposed the plea stating that the investigation
in the arms case was still on and releasing Samad on bail
would not be safe.

According to ATS, Samad is a close aide of gangster Chota Shakeel and had supplied firearms to three other persons, who
were arrested in August last year.

"The remaining three accused in the arms case are out on bail. So, on grounds of parity even Samad should be granted bail. Moreover, if his name had figured in the case last year itself, why did ATS wait for a year before arresting him. He has been falsely implicated," Samad's lawyer Mubin Solkar said.

Court would hear arguments on the bail plea on June 9. 

Soon after his arrest, Union home minister P Chidambaram
had said that Samad was a prime suspect in the German Bakery
blast that left 17 persons dead.

However, ATS has till now not booked Samad in the Pune blast case.