Mumbai: In a new development in the July 28 Ghatkopar bomb blast probe, police has arrested two persons, Hassan Batterywala and Rizwan Ladoowala, for their alleged complicity in the crime.

The duo were arrested yesterday (Dec 15, 2003) and produced before a Special Court which remanded them to police custody till December 23.

Police also arrested Jahid Patni in Zaveri Bazaar bomb blast of August 25. He was remanded him to police custody till December 23.

Batterywala, Ladoowala and Patni have earlier been remanded to custody along with three others in a case of seizure of explosives from a bus in suburban Andheri on December 2 last year.

Other accused held in the explosive seizure case are Sayed Mohammed Hanif, his wife Fahimida and associate Arshat Ansari. They have also been remanded to judicial custody in blasts at Gateway of India and Zaveri Bazaar which occurred on August 25 killing 53 people and injuring more than 100.

Seeking their custody, prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam and Ganesh Sovani told the designated Judge A P Bhangale that RDX was recovered from Batterywala and detonators from Ladoowala.

Their custody was needed to find out the source of explosives.

The prosecutors said the accused were required for custodial interrogation to find out their role vis-a-vis other accused.

PTI