Kochi, Tuesday, December 22, 2009: Kerala Police today informed the High Court that Soofiya, wife of PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, was the “chief conspirator and instigator” behind the 2005 Tamil Nadu bus burning case.

Assistant commissioner of police, Thrikakkara, PM Varghese, who is investigating the case, stated this in an affidavit, while responding to a PIL seeking to hand over all terror-related cases to the National Investigation Team.

Most of the accused, including Sufiya, have been apprehended, he said, adding there was considerable progress in the investigation.

The officer said steps had been taken for custodial interrogation of suspected LeT operative T Nazir, who was arrested from the Indo-Bangla border on December 2. Earlier, Soofiya was listed as the 10th accused in the case relating to burning of the bus at nearby Kalamassery based on the details given by Nazir during his questioning.

The incident occurred during a protest against the then detention of Maudani in connection with 1998 Coimbatore bomb blasts, in which 58 people were killed. The PDP leader was later released. Nazir is now in the custody of Karnataka police in connection with the Bangalore blasts.

Varghese said Nazir’s questioning is “highly inevitable,” and the details would be incorporated in the additional statement to be filed.
Meanwhile, the High Court adjourned the PIL filed by Raju Puzhanagara of Thrissur for a month following a request of the state government.
Earlier, director general of prosecution VG Govindan Nair sought time to prepare a complete additional statement, incorporating details of the investigation.

Sufiya, who has been remanded to 14 days judicial custody, has moved a bail application before the Ernakulam sessions court. She was shifted from the Ernakualm sub-jail to Alappuzha medical college hospital on medical grounds late last night.