Chennai: Two persons, including one suspected to have Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) links, were arrested by police at the departure hall of Chennai Airport late last night (Dec 8, 2003), when they were about to board a flight to Frankfurt, en route to the United States.

Police said today that Iliyas Ahamed, said to be involved in the recent bomb blasts in Mumbai, accompanied by a woman from Gujarat, were detained after they were found having a "bogus" immigration clearance seal affixed on their passport.

Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at Chennai airport spotted Iliyas Ahamed and intercepted him. It was found that he had gained entry into the departure hall with the help of a Tamil Nadu fire service man, who had also helped him get a bogus immigration clearance seal affixed on his passport, police said.

The woman, Hasumathi Patel, was to travel in the name of Ajina Beevi, police said.

Iliyas Ahamed was lodged in the central prison in Chennai and was handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) personnel. The CBI had formed a special party to interrogate him, police said.

Hasumathi Patel was lodged in the sub-jail in Chennai.

The fire service man who had helped Iliyas was absconding, police said.

PTI