The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Monday formally arrested Lokesh Sharma, suspect in the 2007 Samjhauta Express Blast Case and 2008 Malegaon Blast Case. Sharma, who was in judicial custody after he was arrested from Indore recently, was produced before the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court of Y D Shinde who remanded him to NIA custody till March 9th, 2012.

The special court had issued a production warrant against the accused on February 23. The NIA stated that Sharma needs to be questioned in connection with the September 29, 2008, Malegaon blast in which six people were killed. Recently he was arrested in the Samjhauta Express Blast Case from Indore. He is believed to be a close associate of Sunil Joshi, the suspected mastermind behind the blasts who was later murdered.

Earlier, the NIA had failed in its attempt to seek his custody after a Panchkula court rejected its application for a 15-day remand of Lokesh Sharma on February 22, 2012.