Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad police have arrested Shoaib Pottanikal, a key accused in the 2008 serial blasts case, at Kozhikode airport.
A joint team of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch, the Kerala police, and intelligence officials arrested the accused after he landed at the airport from an international flight.
Mr. Pottanikal (49) is one of the 18 absconding accused in the blasts that killed 56 people. “Mr. Pottanikal was arrested at Kozhikode airport. He had escaped overseas after the blasts, following which a red corner notice was issued against him,” Ahmedabad Crime Branch Joint Commissioner J.K. Bhatt told reporters on Wednesday.
According to Mr. Bhatt, Mr. Pottanikal knew Sainuddin and Sarfuddin, arrested for allegedly providing electronic chips used in making bombs for the blasts, and helped the operatives of Indian Mujahideen and SIMI get in touch with them with an intention to make bombs.
Yasin Bhatkal, one of the main accused, had told Crime Branch sleuths about Mr. Pottanikal’s role after he was brought here on a transfer warrant from Tihar jail on March 31.
Mr. Pottanikal hails from Malappuram in Kerala where his father has a rice mill. “For the last six to eight months, we have stepped up the lookout for the absconding accused. The local police and intelligence officials were keeping a tab on Mr. Pottanikal’s friends and relatives,” said Mr. Bhatt. A total of 80 accused have been arrested in the case and a charge sheet has been filed.
