Ending the eight-day long suspense, People's Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Madani was on Tuesday arrested amid high drama from his camp in Kollam, Kerala by the Karnataka police in connection with the 2008 Bengaluru blasts case.
Hours before the deadline set by the Bengaluru court was set to expire, a Karnataka police team executed the non-bailable arrest warrant as Madani emerged from his orphanage-cum-madrassa complex at Anwarassery in Kollam.
Bangalore Deputy Commissioner of Police Omkarayya executed the warrant against Madani with the support of the Kerala police shortly after the PDP leader said he would be surrendering in a local magistrate's court. As Madani came out in a vehicle from his camp after mid-day prayers, a heavy contingent of the Kerala police in riot gear blocked the vehicle to facilitate the Karnataka officials to carry out the arrest.
The police then took charge of the vehicle allowing only Madani's wife Soofiya and a personal aid to remain with the PDP leader. Kollam Superintendent of Police Harshita Attalluri, who was leading the Kerala police team, told reporters that Madani had been arrested by the Karnataka police.
The entire exercise took place without any immediate law and order problem except some slogan shouting by supporters hailing their leader. Madani was taken to Thiruvananthapuram en route to Bengaluru by Kingfisher Flight 730 so that he could be produced before the Metropolitan Magistrate there today evening.
Madani was listed as the 31st accused in an additional chargesheet filed by the police in July after confessions by suspected Lashkar-e-Tayiba operative T Nazir linking him to the Bengaluru blasts that left one person dead and 20 others injured.
A Karnataka police team has been camping in Kollam for the last eight days, waiting for a nod from the local police for the arrest of Madani, whose anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Karnataka high court on August 3.
Madani had earlier in the day told reporters that he would surrender before a local court today afternoon after mid-day prayers with the orphanage inmates. Maintaining that he was falsely implicated in the case as part of 'a deep-rooted conspiracy', Madani said he wanted to surrender as he had faith in the judiciary.
Madani has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on his arrest in the case. The PDP leader was also an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial bomb blast case in which 58 people were killed and over 200 injured hours before an election meeting to be addressed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani. He was acquitted later by the trial court.
Two police officers from Bengaluru had come to Kerala a week ago with the warrant, after the PDP leader's anticipatory plea was rejected by the Karnataka high court. Madani's Anwarassery camp has been witnessing high drama and suspense since last Saturday with the state police sending forces there, creating the impression that the arrest was imminent.
But the matter dragged on in view of the security situation on the eve of Independence Day and the then three-day visit of President Pratibha Patil to the state. On Sunday, Madani himself stated at a press meet that he preferred to surrender in a court instead of arrest.
The issue gained momentum with two senior police officials from Karnataka arriving on Monday and making it clear that they could no longer wait indefinitely as they were bound to complete the legal process.
After a blame game between the two states, an understanding between Kerala and Karnataka on executing the warrant was reached on Monday night, leaving no other option for the PDP leader, who had raised the issue of his health.
Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa adds:
In Bengaluru, a lengthy questionnaire pertaining to the blasts awaits him. Security across the city has been beefed up in the wake of his arrest. The investigation team will produce him before the magistrate on arrival and an application seeking police custody of Madani will be moved before the court on Wednesday.
The Bengaluru police will question Madani about his links with Nasir. According to the police, Madani had met Nasi in Coorg and Kerala to plan the serial blasts.
