Thursday, January 5 2006 18:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Riyaz Siddiqui, an aide of extradited gangster Abu Salem, who was arrested by CBI for his suspected involvement in 1993 serial bomb blasts, told the agency that actor Sanjay Dutt received an AK-56 assault rifle from a cache of arms he brought from Gujarat on advise of prime conspirator Anees Ibrahim in Jan 1993.

Riyaz, arrested yesterday, reportedly told CBI that Anees Ibrahim asked him to go to Gujarat in January 1993 to collect an arms consignment.

At a place in Gujarat, he met Salem who was already present there, and the duo drove back to Mumbai in separate vehicles laden with arms and ammunition, which later reached the blasts accused, including Sanjay.

The CBI, while seeking custody of extradited gangster Abu Salem today, told the designated TADA court about Siddiqui's visit to Gujarat and how the arms reached the conspirators.

CBI special public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam told the court that Siddiqui revealed that he received a phone call from Anees Ibrahim in January 1993, asking him to reach Gujarat.

"Following the phone call, Siddiqui went to a place in Gujarat where he met Salem. The duo returned with arms and ammunition," Nikam informed the court, but refused to disclose the place, stating that it could hamper investigations.

Nikam also told the court that a woman had accompanied Siddiqui to Gujarat, and the central agency plans to take him to Gujarat to establish the identity of the woman as well as those who assisted him to bring the arms to Mumbai.