Baig says he did not start cyber cafe at all

Himayat Baig, the only suspect to have been arrested in the German Bakery blast on Friday not only denied the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) allegation that the conspiracy was hatched at Global Internet Cafe in Udgir, but went on to claim in court that he had never starting the cafe in the first place. Baig was on Friday recording his statement during trial, which is in the final stages, in the court of additional sessions judge N P Dhote.

In fact, Baig denied all ATS allegations barring that he had attended a meeting of Popular Front of India (PFI) in Pune in January 2010 and that he was known as Hasan in Nanded.

As per the ATS, Baig operated the cyber cafe and the bomb planted at the German Bakery was assembled there. The bomb blast on February 13, 2010 killed 17 people.

Baig also denied having received any terror training by LeT. According to ATS, Baig was chief of LeT's Maharashtra operations and was mainly involved in scouting for terror recruits. Baig called these allegations baseless.

He agreed he was known as Hasan in Nanded but denied he was known as Yusuf Sir in Udgir. Baig denied the that he left his cell phone with a friend in Aurangabad on the day of the blast, as ATS has alleged. So far, the court has posed 163 questions to Baig. Recording of his statement would resume on February 5. Special public prosecutor Raja Thakare, and Baig's lawyers A Rehman and Kaynath Shaikh were present during the trail.

ALSO READ

Priest, others beaten up on church premises

Community halls ‘disappear’ from PMC official records

The Style Shrinks

Real estate agent from Pune financed fake currency racket busted in Chandrapur: Cops