Kozhikode: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) which initially probed the Elathur train arson had seized the phones of three journalists who allegedly leaked information on the arrest of accused Shahrukh Saifi.
The seized phones have not been returned to the journalists or handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) which took charge of the investigation.
The rules mandate that phones that have been confiscated should be given to the NIA together with the evidence recovery warrant if they are directly relevant to the investigation of the case.
The investigation team was in fact left embarrassed as it learned about Saifi's arrest in Ratnagiri from media reports.
In order to find out the source of the leak, the investigation officer seized the phones of three journalists without officially registering the seizures or writing the 'mahzar' (the proof of procedures) in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC).
Saifi, from Delhi's Shaheen Bagh, the accused in the Alappuzha-Kannur Executive Express train arson case, has been charged with provisions under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The accused who had fled from the scene was arrested two days later from Ratnagiri by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad.
Three people died and nine suffered burns in the incident that took place aboard the D1 compartment of the Executive Express near Elathur in Kozhikode on April 2.
