Mumbai: September 9, 2008 - Riyaz Lone and Ashfaq Ahmed Tak, who were arrested in Kathmandu and deported to India last week for allegedly being involved in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, have been cleared.

A CBI officer submitted the necessary paperwork for their immediate release without any bond and the agency took the men away from Arthur Road jail to an undisclosed destination. It's not clear if the two Kashmiris will bring any case of damages against the Nepal police for their wrongful arrest.

Tada judge D U Mulla, who has replaced P D Kode, has barred reporters from entering the high security court premises to cover the proceedings. But the duo reportedly told the judge, "We have no complaints against the CBI as we have not been ill-treated. But all our documents have been seized.''

"We are Kashmiris who have been in Nepal for 12 years,'' said Riyaz Lone to a lawyer.

Riyaz Khatri had jumped bail in 1995. An alleged aide of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, he was part of the group that was involved in the arms and RDX landings off the Raigad coast before the March 12 blasts that killed 257 Mumbaikars and injured over 700.

Gazi had initiated the weapons training in Pakistan for the co-accused. The police have announced a Rs 2 lakh reward for his arrest. Gazi, who Indian police sources said was close to gangster Chhota Shakeel, had followed Khatri to Nepal. The police are certain that he runs a racket, probably related to terror and counterfeit currency smuggling, under the guise of a manpower company, which gives him ample reasons to visit Dubai and Saudi Arabia frequently.

At present, the trial of four other accused, including deported gangsters Abu Salem and Mustafa Dossa, is on. On Monday, CBI officer Raman Tyagi was cross-examined