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During the course of investigations, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has found that there has been direct or indirect involvement by two high-profile though non-political leaders who owe allegiance to pro-Hindu organisations.

‘‘Our investigations are at a very crucial stage. During the probe, we found that the two non-political leaders, who are not from Maharashtra, had played a vital role in assisting a section of the accused in the Malegaon bomb blast. We will disclose their names at the appropriate time,’’ a senior IPS official told TOI on Tuesday.
While three ATS teams reached UP on Tuesday in search of a ‘‘high-profile leader’’ in connection with the case, there was a lot of speculation on who the leader was. Gorakhpur BJP MP Yogi Adityanath lashed out at claims that he was the suspect. ‘‘I am prepared to face any inquiry or willing to support or cooperate with the ATS if it has some clinching evidence against me,’’ he told TOI, adding that the ATS would face severe retaliation if it only wanted to defame him.

Speaking to TOI, an IPS official said that the ATS was also probing if the accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case had any links with three other blasts, those at Nanded and Ajmer and the blast in the Samjhauta Express in January 2007.