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Army man’s statement will be used, says ATS

Mumbai: The statement of an Army man will serve as “substantial proof” in the court in the Malegaon blast case, according to the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra.

“We have recorded the statement of one of the Army men we questioned. This will be used as evidence in the case,” a senior ATS official told PTI here.

“He will be a witness in the case. We have taken all precautions to ensure that the statement is admissible in the court,” he said.

The ATS had questioned three Army men, a Junior Commissioned Officer and two jawans, who served with Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit – already in custody – in Military Intelligence. A resident of Pune, 37-year-old Col. Purohit allegedly procured RDX and attended several meetings in Deolali to conspire for the blast, the ATS has said.

Names of some Army men cropped up during the interrogation of Col. Purohit and Sudhkar Chaturvedi, another arrested accused in the case.

Chaturvedi was first arrested by the Matunga police for possessing a fake ID which was used as an entry pass for the Deolali cantonment. He was booked in the Malegaon blast case on November 19.

On reports that the ATS was in a position to file a charge sheet within the stipulated time, ATS officials are gathering “as much evidence as possible,” ATS chief K.P. Raghuvanshi said. — PTI

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