KOCHI: Delhi native Shahrukh Saifi, the accused in the Elathur train arson case, has been taken into custody by the NIA investigation team for questioning. A special NIA court in Ernakulam granted his custody till May 8. The National Investigation Agency had collected information from Shahrukh's departure from Delhi's Jamia Nagar till his arrival in Kerala.

The information to be obtained is after setting fire to the D1 coach of the Alappuzha-Kannur executive train on the night of April 2 to the time he was arrested on April 5. Terrorist links of the accused are also being investigated. Earlier in the remand report given by the NIA, it was stated that the evidence so far points towards terrorist activities.

NIA yet to receive complete documents from the police

The NIA is yet to receive the complete documents from the Kerala Police, which initially investigated the case. Only the documents that were in the Kozhikode Magistrate Court have been given to the NIA court in Ernakulam. After receiving all the documents from the police, the NIA has filed an application seeking custody for seven days as the first step, as it will adversely affect the investigation if Shahrukh is interrogated. As it is a case under UAPA, the investigating team can ask for more days of custody.