Aseemanand to Ajmer CJM: Want to make statement in private

The court also extended judicial custody of Aseemanand till March 1 along with Harshad Solanki and Mukesh Vasani,who are also accused in the Ajmer Dargah blast case being probed by the Rajasthan Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). Aseemanand was brought to Rajasthan for questioning on January 22. Solanki is also an accused in the murder of Sunil Joshi,the main conspirator,who was shot dead on December 29,2007.

Commenting on Aseemanand’s letter to the CJM,a senior advocate in Ajmer said,“The CJM,after confirming that the letter was Aseemanand’s,asked him whether the contents are to be sealed,and Aseemanand said yes. This is usually the process when an accused is in judicial custody and wants his statement recorded. This also happens when an accused desires to turn approver for the government.”

Recently,it was Aseemanand’s confession to the CBI that laid bare the inner workings of groups responsible for a series of blasts including Malegaon,Ajmer,Samjhauta Express and Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad. “We have questioned Aseemanand at length and he has corroborated most of what he has mentioned in his earlier confession. It was based on information from Aseemanand that we arrested Bharat Rateshwar as well recently,” a senior ATS officer told The Indian Express.