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Ajmer blast: CBI grills key RSS man

Last updated on: December 23, 2010 16:00 IST

The Central Bureau of Investigation on thursday interrogated Indresh Kumar, a key member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, in connection with the Ajmer blast.

Kumar, who had denied any involvement in any of these acts of terror, figures in the chargesheet prepared by the CBI in connection with the October 2007 blast. He has been charged with conspiracy under Section 120(b) of Indian Penal Code.

It is alleged that Kumar was part of the meetings that were conducted by some elements, including Sadhvi Pragya Singh, during which these attacks were planned in the first place.

Kumar, a national executive member and the sahprachar pramukh in the RSS, came under scrutiny during the interrogation of Colonel Shrikant Purohith, another accused in the case.

Although the CBI says it is too early to link him with other blasts, their primary focus -- for the moment -- would be on the Ajmer blasts.

Sources told rediff.com say that their questioning largely revolved around the meeting that he is alleged to have held at Jaipur. The meeting had six more persons in it.

The Ajmer blast, which was being investigated by the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad, was initially blamed on operatives of the Harkat-ul-Jihadi Islamia. However, after demands were made and the government in Rajasthan changed, the CBI took over the probe and found that it was the doing of some extremists among the Hindus.

It is said that Purohith nursed a grudge against Kumar, as he felt that the latter was responsible for the killing of Hindus in Nepal. Purohith also felt that it was Kumar who had given out information about him and Pragya Singh, which led to their arrest.

Vicky Nanjappa