Karnataka Police team arrives in Kerala, going to Maudany’s house

KOLLAM - A Karnataka Police team arrived in Kochi Tuesday morning and was on its way to this Kerala town, where People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief Abdul Nazir Maudany lives. It was not known if they intended to arrest him.

Maudany, named as an accused in the 2008 Bangalore bomb blast case, has been trying to secure anticipatory bail. However, a local court in Bangalore turned down his plea last month and the high court too refused his plea last week.

The six member team had a meeting with Ernakulam City Police Commissioner Manoj Abraham before they proceeded to Anwaraserry near Kollam, the headquarters of the PDP.

State police chief Jacob Punnoose said that so far Karnataka Police has not asked for any help.

“In the state everyday, there are so many arrests taking place and this one too is just like that. Kerala will lend all support if they seek our help,” he said.

Maudany and his wife Sufiya have been under the scanner following the arrest of suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operative T. Nazeer last year near the India-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya and currently in custody of Bangalore police.

Maudany is accused of having links with Nazeer and knowing of the plot. However, the PDP chief had vehemently denied the charges.

Nazeer is also the prime accused in the 2005 Kalamassery bus burning case, in which Sufiya is the 10th accused. She is currently on bail after her arrest last year.

Reacting to the arrival of the Karnataka Police team, PDP spokesperson Poonthura Siraj said tomorrow (Wednesday), the holy month of Ramadan begins and “we have no clue as to why they are here”.

Meanwhile at Anwaraserry, large number of PDP supporters started gathering and a police contingent is camping in the area to maintain peace.

Maudany was jailed after being linked to the 1998 serial bombings in Coimbatore but was acquitted in 2007.