Indian Mujahideen co-founder Yasin Bhatkal was today sent to 15-days custody of NIA by a local court following his arrest in connection with the February 21 Dilsukhnagar twin blasts cases.

Mohammed Ahmed Siddibappa, alias Yasin Bhatkal, was produced by NIA officials before the court of First Additional Metropolitan Session Judge here this afternoon amid tight security, which earlier sent him in judicial remand till October 17.

The NIA counsel then moved a police custody petition seeking custodial interrogation of Bhatkal (who has been named as an accused in the cases) alleging the funding for the terror operation was routed through hawala transactions and there was a need to identify the members of this hawala racket and it was possible to get these details only through his custodial interrogation.

To know the hawala racket and the source of explosives, there was a need to take him (Yasin Bhatkal) to various places across the country after taking him into custody, the police petition said.