Israeli embassy car blast probe: Police seek more time

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) Delhi Police Wednesday moved a fresh application in a court here for extension of time to investigate the Feb 13 Israeli embassy car bombing.

Police moved the application before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Vinod Yadav, a day after a sessions court set aside a magistrate's decision giving additional 90 days to Delhi Police to probe the bombing.

Yadav has listed the matter for further hearing for Friday. The bail plea of accused journalist Syed Mohammad Kazmi will also be heard the same day.

Additional Sessions Judge S.S. Rathi Tuesday allowed revision petition moved by Kazmi challenging the magistrate's June 2 order, that granted police an additional 90 days for investigation.

Rathi has given a week to the prosecution to move a fresh application to modify its plea for extension of the probe period.

The Delhi High Court, July 2, suspended the hearing in the case and the June 8 order of the session court, which had questioned the magistrate's power to extend the judicial or police custody of an accused under the anti-terror law.

The high court, July 13 lifted the stay and allowed the hearing on the revision petition.

Kazmi was arrested March 6 for his alleged involvement in the embassy car bombing. Four people were injured when an Israeli embassy car was struck by a bomb near the Prime Minister's House in central Delhi.

Tal Yehoshua Koren, 42, wife of Israeli defence attache Colonel Yossi Refaelov, suffered multiple injuries when a motorcycle rider attached a magnetic explosive device to her car and sped away.