Vicky Nanjappa reports: Yasin Bhatkal, who was arrested in a joint operation by the Intelligence Bureau and the Delhi police will first be questioned by the Delhi police, followed by the Maharashtra police, the NIA and finally the Bangalore police.

Bhatkal is a major catch for  the agencies because he is believed to be the mastermind behind the Bangalore Chinnaswamy stadium blast, the 13/7 Mumbai train blasts, Hyderabad blasts, Bodhgaya and Delhi blasts. He is the main link between the Gulf and Indian modules.

Apart from being an ideological and operational head of the IM, he was the one responsible for the rebirth of the IM. He has also been credited with the setting up of the Darabhanga module.

Bhatkal's arrest could be considered as third-time lucky for the Indian agencies. He was first picked up by the Kolkata police in a fake currency case in 2009 and was let off. He was later spotted in Byculla after the 13/7 blasts, but managed to escape due to lack of coordination by the police in Maharashtra.