Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has detained a person named Sai Prasad, said to be a BJP worker, in connection with the Rameshwaram Café blast case, sources said on Friday.
He was named by two workers from a mobile shop who were questioned by the premier investigative agency. Prasad was taken into custody for questioning by the NIA, allegedly linked to a suspect in the case.
To recall, the agency conducted raids on a few locations in Shivamogga, including a mobile shop and houses of two suspects.
As soon as the BJP worker was detained by the agency, Congress hit out at the BJP over the detention. Congress Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao took to X and asked what the “saffron supporters” of the state say now.
“With the NIA arresting a BJP worker, does it not imply BJP’s involvement in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast? Is there any clearer evidence that the saffron extremism propagated by the BJP in the name of religious protection is causing serious issues? What response does the central BJP, enforcing RSS ideologies nationwide, have to this?” Rao tweeted in Kannada.
ರಾಮೇಶ್ವರಂ ಕೆಫೆ ಸ್ಫೋಟ ಪ್ರಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ತೀರ್ಥಹಳ್ಳಿಯ ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಮುಖಂಡ ಸಾಯಿಪ್ರಸಾದ್ನನ್ನು ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರೀಯ ತನಿಖಾ ದಳದವರು ವಶಕ್ಕೆ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ಸ್ಫೋಟಕ್ಕೆ ನಮ್ಮ ಸರ್ಕಾರವೇ ಕಾರಣ ಅನ್ನೋವಂತೆ ಮಾತಾನಾಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಕೇಸರಿ ಕಲಿಗಳು ಈಗ ಏನು ಹೇಳುತ್ತಾರೆ? ಬಿಜೆಪಿ ಮುಖಂಡನನ್ನು NIA ವಶಕ್ಕೆ ಪಡೆದಿದೆ ಎಂದ ಮೇಲೆ… pic.twitter.com/gygIPjGuBK
— Dinesh Gundu Rao/ದಿನೇಶ್ ಗುಂಡೂರಾವ್ (@dineshgrao) April 5, 2024
He also sought explanations from the BJP for targeting the Congress-led state government in Karnataka over the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. As many as ten people were injured in the blast that took place at one of Bengaluru’s popular chain of restaurants on March 1. The NIA had sought public help in tracing the accused and announced rewards for those providing valuable tips on the absconding accused.
