Delhi Blast Probe: Haryana Preacher Claims Arrested Doctors Misled Him, Fixated On Pending 6 Months' Rent

The religious preacher, who was picked by the Jammu and Kashmir police in connection with the 'white-collar' terror module, has come up with a shocking story during interrogation. Maulvi Ishtiyaq, the religious preacher from

Mewat in Haryana, was picked up by the cops on November 12 after the recovery of 2,500 kg of explosive material, including ammonium nitrate, potassium chlorate, and sulphur, from his rented residence located outside Faridabad's Al Falah University, which has emerged as the epicentre of the 'white-collar' terror module.He was detained after his name surfaced during the interrogation of Dr Muzammil Ganaie, a key member of the 'white-collar' terror module arrested from the University. At his instance, the police team recovered explosives from the residence of the preacher.Now, during interrogation, Maulvi Ishiyaq claimed that Muzammil and Umar(Delhi bomber) had approached him earlier this year, asking him to store what they called "fertilisers" at his home, reported PTI citing officials. They allegedly agreed upon a monthly storage fee of Rs 2,500, he said. Maulvi Ishtiyaq was not concerned about the gravity of the situation and his concern was about the outstanding rent owed by Ganaie and Umar, which was pending for the last six months, the news agency quoted the official as saying.

He has reportedly told the officials of Naional Investigation Agency, Srinagar Police and others from central security agencies to recover the outstanding rent from Ganaie so that he could send the money back home.His story was supported by Ganaie during interrogation, the officials said, adding Maulvi Ishtiyaq has been handed over to the State Investigation Agency for further action.Jammu and Kashmir police on November 10 along with their counterparts in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, carried out the operation to unravel a 'white-collar' terror network of banned Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind and arrested eight people.

Investigations led to the Al Falah University where 2,900 kg of explosives was recovered. Hours later, a slow-moving Hyundai i20 exploded near Delhi's red Fort killing 15 people. The i20 was driven by Dr Umar, DNA test has confirmed. (With inputs from PTI)