The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) handed over the probe into the blast at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday.
After the federal agency took over the probe, it filed an FIR once again and initiated a comprehensive inquiry into the explosion that rocked the bustling Whitefield area on March 1.
The explosion at The Rameshwaram Cafe during lunch hour resulted in several injuries, following which the law enforcement agencies swung into action to determine the cause and arrest those responsible for the incident.
Initial reports suggested that the blast was of low intensity, causing panic among patrons and bystanders in the vicinity of the popular eatery.
Prior to the NIA's involvement, the Bengaluru Police had launched a probe, registering a case under relevant laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Explosives Substances Act.
Investigators obtained CCTV footage showing a suspect placing a bag inside the cafe before the blast occurred.
The officials, based on the footage, suspect that the accused used an improvised explosive device (IED) with a timer and that the blast was premediated.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara assured that multiple teams of law enforcement officials was formed to collect evidence to nail the perpetrator(s) responsible for the blast.
Meanwhile, the authorities are conducting a thorough examination of the explosive device used in the blast and parallels are being drawn with similar incidents that played out in Karnataka such as the recent explosion in Mangaluru, to ascertain any potential connections or patterns.
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar allayed public concerns, he urged residents of Bengaluru not to panic and assured them of the government's commitment to ensuring their safety and security.
Previously, the government had said that the Bengaluru police is probing the blast incident from all angles including business rivalry and impending elections.
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