BENGALURU – The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of the prime suspect in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru. The explosion, which occurred on March 1 at the popular eatery in Whitefield, left at least 10 people injured.
The NIA made the announcement on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, promising to keep the informant’s identity confidential. The investigation is being conducted by the Bengaluru Police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Explosive Substances Act.
The blast took place during the busy lunch hour, injuring nine people. The police are leaning towards the possibility that an improvised explosive device (IED) in a bag at the eatery might have triggered the blast. CCTV footage has emerged showing a man carrying a bag inside the cafe. Efforts are being made to identify the man, who had partially concealed his face.
The NIA has initiated its probe into the Rameshwaram Cafe blast incident. A team of NIA officials, led by IGP Santosh Rastogi, conducted a thorough inspection of the cafe premises. The NIA took over the probe following directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), as the Karnataka government had not transferred the case to the central agency.
Meanwhile, the Central Crime Branch (CCB) continues its parallel investigation, having interrogated five suspects thus far, all of whom were subsequently released. In addition, CCB sleuths have undertaken visits to various shops on SP Road, presenting images of the bomb components recovered from the crime scene.
The ongoing police investigation suggests that the explosion was caused by an IED device with a timer. Earlier, Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara had assured that the suspect would be arrested soon.
The NIA’s announcement of the reward is expected to expedite the process of identifying and apprehending the suspect. The agency has urged the public to come forward with any information that could assist in the investigation.
