Ayesha Bano and Zubair Hussain, the couple arrested on charges of being conduits for financing terror outfits, were produced before the third Judicial Magistrate First Class court by the sub-inspector of the Lakhisarai police station here on Wednesday.
When judge Manjula Hundi asked the couple as to when they were arrested, Bano said “on Monday.” However, the police said that it was on Tuesday evening that they were arrested. When asked whether the police ill-treated them, she replied in the negative.
The judge questioned why Hussain was arrested, as the Lakhisarai court had issued warrant only against Bano. The police said there was a possibility of his involvement in the act.
Later, the judge allowed the police to take the couple to Patna for investigation. They had not been taken to Bihar till late on Wednesday night. Police sources said the couple are likely to be taken to Bihar in train after additional police forces arrive.
The investigation has revealed that about Rs five crore has been transferred from the bank accounts of Bano.
The Bihar police have found that she used to transact through eight banks to the accounts of the members of the Indian Mujahideen. The police have seized nine ATM cards, three cheque books, eight mobile phones and six SIM cards from her house.
Patna probe
The police had stumbled upon Bano’s suspicious transactions during their probe of the Patna serial blasts.
“She had transacted about Rs five crore through her accounts. Money has been transferred to the accounts of a few suspected individuals. Based on that, we arrested her,” said a officer from the Lakhisarai police station.
“During the interrogation, we came to know that it was Hussain who was crediting the amount to the accounts of the suspects. Hence, we arrested him,” the official said.
“We have not come across the couple’s involvement in other anti-national activities. We will come to know about when they started this, only after investigation. We have filed cases under IPC Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120 B and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.”
Bano had brought her four-month-old child to the court. The police had taken her elder son and daughter to the police station. The son was allowed to go home as he had to go to the beedi unit for work.
The daughter was in police custody till evening. Bano’s son has handed over her jewellery and the newly purchased car to the police,” said sources.