MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Government on Thursday decided to hand over the Malegaon serial bomb blasts case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the police was probing the blasts in which 31 persons were killed.

The action comes after the ATS filed a charge sheet against eight persons in judicial custody and a Pakistani, Muzzamil, in a special court that was set up under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The Government also handed over to the CBI the investigation into the blast in a house at Nanded in April.

Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil said in a statement that Muslim organisations and legislators had alleged that the ATS probe was targeting Muslims.

"The State Government has taken this decision to ensure transparency and to leave no doubt in anybody's mind," he said.

Political circles, however, linked the decision to civic elections in major cities of Maharashtra in February.

Three bombs exploded at Hamideeya Mosque and Mushavart Chowk of Malegaon on September 8, killing 31 persons, mostly Muslim worshippers at afternoon prayers, and injuring 312.

The Malegaon police inspector was probing four cases registered in connection with the blasts.

On October 23, the ATS took over the cases and arrested eight persons under the MCOCA for their alleged involvement.

In Nanded, a bomb exploded at 2 a.m. in a house on April 6 last. The police arrested 16 persons and of them 12 were chargesheeted.

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