Chennai: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) have arrested one more person in connection the LPG cylinder blast in a car loaded with explosives in Coimbatore on Deepavali eve last year.
With the the total number of accused arrested in connection with the car blast that took place front of Sangameswarar temple in the Textile City on October 23 night last year, went up to 12.
The arrested accused was identified as Mohammed Idris (25), a native of the Ukkadam area in Coimbatore.
He was suspected to be a close aide of Jameesha Mubin, the alleged mastermind of the car blast in front of the temple at Kottaimedu and the one who perished in the explosion, which later turned out to be a suicide attack and revealed the terror module in it.
Sources said that Idris was part of the criminal conspiracy that led to the car blast.
NIA officials found the role of Idris in the conspiracy, after examining his mobile call detail records and the confessions made by the other accused, who were arrested, in the case.
After preliminary questioning by summoning, the NIA arrested Idris and brought him to Chennai on Tuesday evening.
He is expected to be produced before the NIA Special Court at Poonamallee in Chennai later on Wednesday for judicial remand.
Sources said the NIA is likely to file a petition before the court for custodial interrogation of Idris to ascertain more details about the conspiracy theory.
It may be recalled that the NIA had filed a chargesheet against six accused in the case against Mohammed Azharudheen, Muhammed Thalha, Firos Ismal, Muhammed Riyas, Nawaz Ismail and Afsar Khan on April 20.
The agency filed a supplementary chargesheet against five others, Umar Farooq, Firoz Khan, Mohammed Thoufiq, Sheik Hidayathullah and Sanofar Ali on June 2.
