KOCHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is questioning the friends of Shahrukh Saifi, the accused in the Elathur arson attack case, at its office in Kochi.
Following a summons, Shahrukh’s parents, relatives and friends reached Kochi for the interrogation. One of Shahrukh’s friends is being questioned in detail on suspicion that he was aware of the accused’s plans.
The agency is verifying whether the friend motivated him to carry out the attack and provided assistance for it. The friend is being interrogated based on digital evidence and social media content extracted as part of the probe.
Meanwhile, the NIA court in Kochi granted custody of Shahrukh to the national agency till 3.30 pm on Friday.
Earlier, Shahrukh was in NIA custody for seven days. The counsel for the accused submitted that already 30 days remand period has been completed.
The council also stated that Shahrukh is not mentally fit for undergoing further interrogation by NIA. However, the NIA filed an affidavit citing reasons for the delay in taking the accused into custody.
The agency also produced a medical certificate stating that Shahrukh is mentally and physically fit.
The court observed that there are enough grounds to grant custody of the accused to NIA for more days.
Saifi, the 27-year-old Shaheen Bagh native, boarded the D1 coach of Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express on April 2 and splashed petrol on passengers before setting the compartment on fire. Three passengers, including a child, died after they jumped out of the train during the arson attack. Saifi was nabbed from Maharashtra a few days after the attack.