Samad was running IM’s hawala network: ATS

Samad was running IM’s hawala network: ATS

Mangalore Today News Network

Mumbai, May 26: Terror suspect Abdul Samad is allegedly a conduit involved in routing hawala money of the terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM).

According to sources in the state anti-terrorism squad (ATS), preliminary investigations have revealed that Samad had fled to Dubai in July 2008 after his name cropped up in the Bengaluru bomb blast case in May 2008.

Samad was however let off in the Bengaluru case after he was questioned.

The ATS is now trying to find out how and when he did he return to the country for his alleged role in the Pune blast.

Samad has reportedly told investigators that in Dubai, he worked in an electronics store, which is allegedly owned by Riyaz Bhatkal, the founder of IM.

"We suspect Samad handled the finances of IM and is also involved in hawala transactions that are used to fund the group’s terror activities," said a senior ATS official, requesting anonymity.

ATS sleuths also plan to grill Samad to get details of the Bhatkal brothers, Riyaz and his older brother Iqbal, and Amir Reza, the co-founder of IM, all suspected to be holed up in Pakistan.

Samad is suspected to be a close aide of Yasin Bhatkal, a relative of Riyaz Bhatkal, the alleged mastermind of the German Bakery blast case.
DNA