The police custody of four suspected terrorists, held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for triggering off a powerful bomb blast in a bus at suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai in December, were on Friday extended for different periods till January 31.

Prime accused Imran Rehman Khan, deported from Dubai a week ago, received an extension of his remand till the January 31, while co-accused, Mohammed Abdul Matim Abdul Basit, Shaikh Mohammed Muzzamil Jamil Ahmed and Jahir Ahmed Bashir Ahmed Shaikh, were remanded to custody till January 22.

Prosecutor Rohini Salian secured an extension of their custody saying their links with other accused abroad had to be established.

Imran was arrested on January 9 while the others on December 27.

Investigating Officer Ambadas Pote filed a preliminary report about the January 7 accident, in which accused Sayyed Khawaja Yunus Khwaja Ayub escaped after the police vehicle taking him to Aurangabad overturned. Police are still on the lookout for Ayub.

Ayub's father has asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry into the incident and to trace the missing accused.

Meanwhile, the Aurangabad police moved an application seeking custody of the accused to probe related offences, but were told by the court to wait till January 22.

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