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A watertight case, says R.R. Patil

R.R. Patil

MUMBAI: The Anti-Terrorism Squad has a watertight case against those arrested for the September 29 Malegaon blast and once proof is produced, some people will be highly discomfited, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said on Monday.

Speaking to journalists here, he said the police had collected enough proof which would be produced in court at the right time.

Referring to criticism by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, Mr. Patil said people in social and political life should think twice before issuing such statements. They were asking where was the proof to arrest the accused. This was wrong, he said.

The same people who defended the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act were now questioning why stringent Acts should be applied to the accused in the Malegaon case.

Referring to the arrest of Lt. Col. Prasad Shrikant Purohit, Mr Patil said this was not a deliberate attempt to malign the Army. The entire Army was not being held responsible or maligned, he clarified. The Army had numerous soldiers from Maharashtra and two major regiments — Mahar and the Maratha Light Infantry. There was no need for anyone to lecture the State on the role and integrity of the Army, he pointed out.

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