NEW DELHI: The anti-terror federal probe agency NIA has taken over the probe into Bengaluru's The Rameshwaram Cafe blast, as it has registered an FIR of its own following a direction given to it by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), officials said on Monday.
The officials said the case has been handed over to the NIA by the MHA after a team of the federal anti-terror probe agency visited the blast site last week.
This development also comes a day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said his government might consider handing over the probe to the NIA if the need arose.
The suspected act of terror (low-intensity blast) took place at the cafe on March 1 in Bengaluru’s Whitefield area, where several people were injured in the explosion that took place during the busy lunch hour.
The case was initially registered by the Bengaluru Police under various sections of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act -UAPA and the Explosives Substances Act in connection with the blast.
The police had also found a suspect in the CCTV footage, who kept a bag inside the cafe. As per the initial investigation conducted by the police, an IED device with a timer was used to carry out the explosion.
The DG & IGP of Karnataka, Alok Mohan, told reporters that the case will be handed over to the NIA. The eight teams of the Central Crime Branch that were formed to probe the case will assist NIA officials.“Procedures are being followed to hand over the case to NIA,” Mohan said.
A team of NIA officials met the state police chief and Bengaluru City Police Commissioner B Dayananda at the state police headquarters on Monday afternoon. After NIA officially takes over the case, all case properties, including material evidence, CCTV footage and related files, will be handed over to it. The city police will also share all information they have gathered with NIA officials.
Earlier, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara had assured that the suspect would be arrested soon.
According to reports the state Home Minister said, “We are continuing our investigation. Eight teams have been formed and all are working in different directions and looking at different aspects. We have collected CCTV footage. We are examining every angle including if there is any jealousy factor.”
Noting that the state government was not sure if the explosion has any connection with the Mangaluru blast, Parameshwara said, “They have used a similar material and the same system technically. The NSG team visited the blast site. We will definitely find the person.”
