Threat calls to Gadkari: IISc Bengaluru terror attack convict visited Nagpur twice, say Police

File Photo/ANI

Afsar Pasha, who was convicted in the 2005 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) terror attack in Bengaluru, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in threat and extortion calls made to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

Pasha had visited Nagpur, Maharashtra, on two occasions, and the police are currently investigating the details of his stay and activities during those visits.

The investigation began after a threat and extortion call demanding Rs 100 crore was received at Gadkari's public relations office in Nagpur on January 14. Another similar call was received on March 21.

The probe led the police to Jayesh Pujari, a convict in Belagavi jail in Karnataka. Pujari was brought to Nagpur on March 28, and two cases were registered against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Indian Penal Code.

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During the investigation, a connection between Pujari and Afsar Pasha was discovered. Pasha has a history of involvement in terror activities in Jammu and Kashmir and was previously convicted in a 2012 case for recruiting operatives for the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba organization.

The police are continuing their investigation into the threat and extortion calls, examining the possible links between Pasha and Pujari in connection with these incidents. (With inputs from PTI)