The Rajasthan anti-terrorist squad (ATS) has named a senior RSS leader in the chargesheet in connection with the 2007 Ajmer blast in Rajasthan, a development that could have far-reaching ramifications. The RSS and the BJP, however, have trashed the development, saying it is a “political conspiracy” by the ruling dispensation.
According to the 806-page chargesheet Indresh Kumar, the RSS leader, was present at a secret meeting, along with six other functionaries of the saffron outfit, at a Gujarati guest house in Jaipur on October 31, 2005.
Sources in the ATS, which filed the chargesheet before an Ajmer court on Friday, said Indresh has not been made an accused in the case as further investigations are underway to ascertain whether he had any links with the blast.
The RSS described the charges as “far from the truth”. RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav said, “We reject the media reports that claim that the name of Indresh Kumar, a senior functionary from New Delhi, features in the Ajmer dargah blast chargesheet. His name has only been mentioned in the document in connection with holding a meeting.” He said the reports would be challenged in court.
Echoing the views of the RSS, the BJP, while being dismissive of the reported charges against the RSS leader, said there was nothing “substantial” or “credible” against him. Party spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, “No organisation has been named. How can anyone say that the BJP or RSS is involved, or that this is saffron terror?”
On his part, Mr Kumar refuted any involvement in the blast. “It is a political conspiracy hatched against me,” he said, adding that the investigating agencies have been misused. “The present government protects the traitors and wages a war against patriots. I will fight this injustice in court,” he asserted.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot claimed, “The truth has come out and the RSS should accept it. Later, the background of its leaders, whose names have appeared, and their links will come out. One should trust the judiciary — that the truth will come out and those guilty will be punished.” Adding to the CM’s
remarks, Rajasthan home minister Shanit Dhariwal told this newspaper that investigations into the terror incident are still on and whoever is found guilty would be prosecuted.
The five accused in the chargesheet include Devendra Gupta, allegedly linked to radical Hindu group Abhinav Bharat. They have been charged with murder and defiling a place of worship.
The chargesheet was filed by the ATS in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate Jagendra Kumar Jain in connection with the blast, which claimed three lives and injured 15 others.
Gupta and the other two accused in the case — Lokesh Sharma and Chander Shekhar Lave — are in judicial custody. The accused have been charged, among others, under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 120B (conspiracy) and 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship).
Two other accused, Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangre, are absconding while another accused, Sunil Joshi, died during the course of the investigation, according to ATS officer Satyendra Singh who filed the chargesheet. The prosecution has cited 133 witnesses. The court has fixed October 26 for arguments in the case.