Saturday, November 12 2005 11:13 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: After intensively interrogating a man who had allegedly confessed his involvement in the serial blasts in the national capital, the Delhi Police yesterday (Nov 11, 2005) said he was not connected with the explosions and sent him back to Jammu and Kashmir where he was arrested on a murder charge.

Ghulam Mohi-ud-din Lone (22), who was apprehended by the Rashtriya Rifles on Sunday (Nov 6, 2005) in Banihal region of J & K, was brought here on Wednesday (Nov 9, 2005) and subjected to questioning for two days by the police and intelligence agencies during which several inconsistencies emerged in his statement.

After taking him to Paharganj where he had allegedly helped in planting a bomb and some places in Rajasthan and Punjab, his version could not be substantiated and investigators concluded he was not involved in the blasts.

"He does not appear to be involved in the Delhi blasts," Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh told reporters here.

Lone, who was in the custody of Jammu and Kashmir Police, had already been sent back to the state, he said.

Asked whether Lone had deliberately misled the investigations, Singh said, "This does not seem to be the case. We have already questioned several people who may have been involved in the blasts. It is part of the investigative process," Singh said.

The J & K Police had on Thursday (Nov 10, 2005) said Lone appeared to be only a thief and was unlikely to be involved in the October 29 explosions, which killed 60 people and injured more than 200.