Pointing towards a complete lack of coordination between Central and state agencies on the 13/7 Mum-bai serial blasts probe, the Union home ministry on Tuesday admitted that one of the prime suspects, Naqi Ahmed Sheikh, was indeed an Intelligence Bureau “informer”. However, the ministry did not give Naqi a clean chit and backed the claims of the Mumbai ATS.
Trying to downplay the reported rift between multiple agencies, home secretary R.K. Singh admitted, “The IB and Delhi police special cell did use Naqi, but in a specific operation. However, that is no reflection on whether he was involved in the Mumbai bombings or not. But ATS investigations confirm his involvement in the Mum-bai multiple bombings.”
Naqi and his associate were arrested by the Mumbai ATS for their alleged involvement in the 13/7 serial blasts. Denying reports that the Mumbai ATS had kept the MHA in the dark on the investigation, Mr Singh claimed ATS chief Rakesh Maria spoke to him on Saturday apprising him of the progress in the case.