Mumbai: Four suspected SIMI (Students Islamic Movement of India) activists, held under POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) for causing bomb blast in suburban Ghatkopar in December, were on January 17 remanded to police custody for varying periods till January 31.

In a related development, the father of an absconding accused filed a petition praying for a CBI inquiry to trace him and go into the lapses because of which he escaped from police custody. The court has asked prosecution to file its say on January 22.

Imran Rehman Khan, who was deported from Dubai a week ago, was remanded to police custody till January 31, while co-accused, Mohammed Abdul Matim Abdul Basit, Shaikh Mohammed Muzzamil Jamil Ahmed and Jahir Ahmed Bashir Ahmed Shaikh, were remanded to custody till January 22.

The accused were produced in "burkha" (veil) before designated judge A P Bhangale. Their custody was sought by prosecutor Rohini Salian on the ground that their links with other accused abroad had to be established and that they had to be confronted with each other.

In another development, investigating officer Ambadas Pote submitted a preliminary report about the January 7 accident in which accused Sayyed Khawaja Yunus Khwaja Ayub had escaped after the police vehicle taking him to Aurangabad overturned.

The court directed police to hand over a copy of the report to his lawyer Abbas Kazmi on January 22.

Meanwhile, Aurangabad police on January 17 moved an application seeking custody of the accused to probe related offences. The court asked them to wait till January 22.

PTI