Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe blast LIVE Updates: NIA to lead probe as CCTV footage identifies suspect ‘buying Rava idli’

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge Monday said there is "nothing wrong" in the Union Home Ministry handing over Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast probe to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). 

"Whatever it is, we are open for investigation. We have a very great police team here in Karnataka. If they have given it to the NIA, there is nothing wrong in it...," Kharge told ANI

In a fresh video footage, the prime suspect is seen entering the Rameshwaram Cafe at 11.34 am on Friday. He exited nine minutes after entering the cafe. At least 10 people were injured in a low-intensity explosion that occurred at the Brookfield outlet of the cafe.

Another CCTV visual of Bengaluru cafe blast suspect emerged showing him entering and leaving the cafe. At least 10 people were injured in the low-intensity blast at the popular Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru's Whitefield locality on Friday.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot along with BJP leader Vijayendra Yediyurappa, met the victims of the Rameshwaram Cafe blast at Vaidehi Hospital on March 2.

As per sources, the networks of at least four terror suspects from Karnataka are being probed. A suspect known just by his code name “Colonel”, is yet to be identified while two of the suspects are believed to be based abroad.

CCTV footage showed the suspect of the Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe getting down from a bus near the spot. The suspect covered his face with a white handkerchief.

The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), as per sources. The NIA is a specialised agency that investigates terror related cases which was established in 2008 following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Meanwhile, this development comes a day after Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that his government is considering to hand over the probe to the NIA if the need arises. 

The prime suspect has been identified as 28 to 30 years old, according to the CCTV footage released by Bengaluru police. He visited the cafe during lunch and bought a coupon for Rava idli but left the cafe without having the idli as he left behind the bag with an IED. The CCTV footage shows the suspect with his face covered with a mask and a cap.

Deputy CM DK Shivakumar reiterated that the state home Minister is asking the people not to panic as he said, "It was a low-intensity blast. A youth came and kept a small bag which exploded after an hour. About 10 people received injuries. 7-8 teams formed to probe the incident. We are looking at all angles. I ask every resident of Bengaluru to not worry." 

Ministry of Home Affairs handed over Bengaluru's The Rameshwaram Cafe blast case to National Investigation Agency.

Delhi Police conducted a mock drill at the Connaught Place on Sunday in the wake of the Bangalore blast. The simulated scenario involved an unclaimed bag following which the Delhi Police crime team, bomb squad and fire department reached the spot.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Devesh Kumar Mahla stressed on Delhi's heightened sensitivity as the national capital and said, "Mock drills are routine for us. In Delhi, considering the sensitivity, we regularly conduct mock drills at important locations. This was part of our routine, and today's drill took place at the CP's theatre. Mock drills follow a standard procedure, with different types prepared according to specific scenarios. Coordination is observed to assess how effectively teams work together, implementing standard procedures. It's a practice within the mock drill." 

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on March 3 criticised BJP for politicising Rameshwaram Cafe blast incident and urged the party to refrain from issuing negative statements as the government continues its investigation. 

He said, "We are continuing our investigation. Eight teams have been formed, and all are working in different directions, examining various aspects. We have collected several CCTV footage. We are exploring every angle, including any jealousy factor. I also appeal to the opposition to cooperate with us and not politicize this issue. We do not know if there is any connection with the Mangaluru blast. They have used similar material and the same technical system."

He added, "BJP should not issue negative statements."  

BJP leader Tejasvi Surya on March 3 dismissing Sharanprakash Rudrappa Patil's ‘silly trick’ comment said that it is not just insensitive but also an insult to those who suffered injuries. He said, "Dismissing the Rameshwaram Cafe Blast as 'silly' is not just insensitive, but also an insult to those who suffered injuries. The message is clear. We cannot expect Congress to protect the country."

Congress leader Sharanprakash Rudrappa Patil called the Rameshwaram Cafe bomb blast a ‘silly trick’ and said, "Some people create such incidents to disturb the peace in the state. Our government does not allow all these silly tricks. Our goal is the development of the state."

He added, "We would not be disturbed by such a silly, small incident. This kind of act does not happen every day. A major incident took place in the heavily guarded Parliament House. These are all fringe elements. It is a silly attempt." 

"As many investors are coming here in view of a stable government, this might have been done either to stop investors from coming to Bengaluru or due to some other unknown reasons," Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Sunday said the state government may consider handing over the café blast case to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) if the need arises. 

“We will see. The investigation has begun just now. No accused has been arrested yet. We will see if the need arises (for NIA investigation)" the Chief Minister said 

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said that the bus used by the suspect linked to the Rameshwaram Cafe blast has been identified, and will be arrested soon.

Parameshwara said that at least 26 buses were present in the area when the blast occurred. During the investigation, the footage from nearby CCTV was scrutinised to identify the accused.

Karnataka Minister Sharan Prakash Patil Sunday said the state government will not be distracted by the ‘silly attempts’ to disturb peace in the state.

"Our government wants everyone's welfare, peace, happiness and development of Karnataka. This will be our focus. We will not be distracted by these silly attempts to disturb peace. We will tackle it," the minister said.

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday said the investigators have tracked the bus in which the prime suspect had travelled. “There is information that he came by a bus...26 buses passed there around that time. We went through all the 26 buses. He was wearing a cap, mask and glasses. We are not getting clarity there as well.”

To a question related to a pressure cooker blast in Mangaluru on November 19, 2022, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday said, “The way the battery and timer have been used seems similar. We have to take it (investigation) forward. We don't know whether the same organisation did it or the same people did it.” 

“It is a shame that BJP has forgotten what happened during their time, I don't like to do politics on such an issue. Let them do whatever politics they are doing. They are spoiling the honour of the state. In such a context, we should be aware of the unity and peace of the people of this country…”, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar said.

"I want to convey my strong regards to people who have got hurt. I wanted to say that we are with them, their family. One woman lost her eyes, and we are there with her. We are with our staff, four or five people, who are hurt very badly. We need all your blessings to show what is the power of youth and to say we are Indians and we are no less than anybody. We're going to launch on Friday with a good bang. And we need all of your support... I request the government of Karnataka and India to make sure that this incident should not happen anywhere in India..." says Co-founder & CEO of Rameshwaram Cafe, Raghavendra Rao

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said. “A man wearing a cap, mask and glasses is the prime suspect in the case and is still untraceable.”  

"There is information that he came by a bus...26 buses passed there around that time. We went through all the 26 buses. We have found the bus in which he travelled. He was wearing a cap, mask and glasses. We are not getting clarity there as well," PTI quoted the minister as saying.

The police have procured about 40 to 50 CCTV footages, he added.

The improvised explosive device (IED) explosion that left multiple people injured at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe on Friday would have been more fatal if it had exploded sideways, according to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.  

The nuts and nails inside the IED had hit the roof at the time of the explosion. However, Parameshwara pointed out that if the device had exploded sideways bringing more people in contact with the nuts and nails, the intensity of the blast would have been severe.

Calling for strict action against those responsible for the blast in Rameshwaram Cafe on Friday, Raghavendra Rao, co-founder and CEO of the eatery, said the Union government and the state government should ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future. 

"I request the government of Karnataka and India to make sure that this incident should not happen anywhere in India," Raghavendra said, extending his solidarity with the people and staff who were injured in the incident.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has directed senior police officers to use technology effectively in investigations and has directed officials to identify densely populated areas and increase police patrolling in such areas

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday said eight teams are working to crack the case and they are accompanied by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), National Security Group (NSG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

"We will crack it (the case). We will not leave it. However difficult this case may be, our department will bust it," he asserted.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar assured that the police are actively investigating the incident with a free hand granted by the government.

"Police are investigating; the government has given them a free hand. The government has taken the issue seriously," Shivakumar said

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday strongly criticized the opposition over the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should refrain from issuing negative statements as the government continues its investigation, reported ANI

A techie from Bihar received a phone call from his mother when the IED blast at the Rameshwaram Cafe on Friday afternoon took place, where he had gone to have lunch.

Kumar Alankrit, a native of Patna, said, "I grabbed my dosa from the pick up counter and was about to sit at my regular spot inside the cafe. Every time I visit the cafe I used to sit at this place… but then I received a phone call from my mother, so I decided to move a few meters away outside the cafe to a quiet area so that I could speak to her." His mother was inquiring his whereabouts when he heard a loud sound from inside the cafe and initially assumed it to be cylinder explosion. He added, "Everyone was terrified and running outside. There was smoke everywhere and a foul smell started emanating from the place."

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on March 2 expressed confidence about nabbing the offender as he said, "We will find the culprit, it will be easy as his visuals alighting from the bus, purchasing tiffin at the eatery, sitting at a place and placing a bag have all come. We will find him at the earliest." 

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi visited the Rameshwaram Cafe in Hyderabad on saturday.  said In a post on X (formerly Twitter) he stated, "Visited Hyderabad's @RameshwaramCafe in solidarity. The food was lovely & it's very important to remember that the Cafe is named after APJ Abdul Kalam's birth place. #RameshwaramCafeBlast is an act of cowardice and an attack on India's values." 

The AIMIM chief noted that the Cafe was named after former President APJ Abdul Kalam's birthplace.

Over pressure cooker blast that took place in Mangaluru on November 19, 2022, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday informed that there was similar assemblage of explosives and other equipment but that comparison doesn't give the conclusion that the same gang was behind the blast at Rameshwaram Cafe. The Minister stated, "The way the battery and timer have been used seems similar. We have to take it (investigation) forward. We don't know whether the same organisation did it or the same people did it." 

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday informed that one of the angles being probed was internal terrorism in Bengaluru ahead of Lok Sabha elections "We will crack it (the case). We will not leave it. However difficult this case may be, our department will bust it." 

An operation led by eight teams is underway to crack the Rameshwaram Cafe incident case. These teams are beoing accompanied by the National Investigation Agency, National Security Group (NSG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) to lead their probe.

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on March 3 said, "As many investors are coming here in view of a stable government, this might have been done either to stop investors from coming to Bengaluru or due to some other unknown reasons." 

Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on Sunday said business rivalry, impending elections and terrorising investors coming to Bengaluru in view of a stable government in the state are some of the angles which the police are working on to crack relating to the blast at a city eatery.

The explosion took place at Rameshwaram Cafe in Brookefield in East Bengaluru on Friday. A man wearing a cap, mask and glasses is the prime suspect in the case and is still untraceable,

According to him, eight teams are working to crack the case and they are accompanied by the National Investigation Agency, National Security Group (NSG) and Intelligence Bureau (IB) are assisting the teams.

After a horrific bomb-blast incident at the Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, Karnataka Police on Sunday morning conducted an investigation at the explosion site.

This comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that the complete truth regarding the Rameshwara Cafe incident has to come out. He gave clear instructions to senior police officers to use the possibilities of technology effectively in investigations.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday instructed senior police to take action against anti-social elements and said, "Action should be taken on anti-social elements who spread false news on social media without any sympathy." He added, “We have to change with the times and should work at a fast pace.”

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar hit out at BJP and said, “Police are investigating, the government has given free hand to them. The government has taken the issue seriously...It is a shame that BJP has forgotten what happened during their time.”

He added, "I don't like to do politics on such an issue. Let them do whatever politics they are doing. They are spoiling the honour of the state. In such a context, we should be aware of the unity and peace of the people of this country."

Co-founder and managing director of The Rameshwaram cafe chain, Divya Raghavendra Rao said that there were two explosions within 10 seconds of each other, reported local TV9 news channel. She added, "The explosion happened in the area where customers wash their hands. It was nothing in the kitchen that exploded... something that was kept in a bag exploded."

Over probe into Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast incident, Karnataka Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said, “We are continuing our investigation. 8 teams have been formed and all are working in different directions and looking at different aspects. We have collected several CCTV footage. We are examining every angle including if there is any jealousy factor. ”

He countered opposition party's charges and urged, "cooperate with us and not to make this a political issue...We do not know if there is any connection with the Mangaluru blast. They have used a similar material and the same system technically. Yesterday NSG arrived here. We will definitely find the person. We had a meeting yesterday and briefed the CM. Today, I have called a meeting of all the senior officers. BJP should not issue negative statements."

The Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka charged at the ruling Congress party and said that the party should focus on maintaining law and order situation in the state.  He said, “The mindset has to be changed. They (Karnataka government) are saying 'Brand Bengaluru' but it will become 'Bomb Bengaluru'. I request the government to take serious action. There is no law and order. This government is not running properly.”

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha of Bengaluru North District organised a silent protest outside Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe in Rajajinagar on Saturday, March 2,  to condemn the “failure of state government administration." 

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar hit out at the Siddaramaih-led Congress government over the Rameshwaram cafe blast in Bengaluru and claimed that there's a connection between 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans raised two days ago and the explosion. He said, "Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised and then, after two days, an IED explosion rocked the Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru. There is a connection between these two." 

The Union Minister further claimed that development in the state has stopped after Shivakumar and DK Shivakumar came into power as corruption has taken over. He said, “The investment has stopped. Electricity prices have increased. After so many years, the water has become scarce in the city of Bengaluru. The corruption is accelerating in the state.” He added, "Our common people have to pay for the appeasement politics. Yesterday, five people got injured at Rameshwaram Cafe." 

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar informed that there seems to be a link between the blast at the Cafe, and the cooker explosion that took place in the coastal city of Mangaluru in 2022, considering materials used for explosions, timer and other evidence. He said, "There seems to be a link between Mangaluru incident and this incident, according to police officers...materials used (for explosions), we can see a similarity, we can see a link, timer and other things. Police officers from Mangaluru and Shivamogga too have come here." 

Considering the explosion in Mangaluru that took place in November, 2022, an improvised explosive device (IED) was kept inside a pressure cooker that accidentally exploded when it was being taken in an autorickshaw. Invetigation into the incident had revealed that the IED was meant to be planted at the Kadri Manjunatha temple. Investigators had confirmed the Mangaluru cooker blast to be associated with "Islamic State-sponsored" Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that one person wearing a mask and cap had come by bus who is suspected to be behind the blast. He said that the masked man, "bought rava Idly from the counter at the cafe and sat down at a place. Then he had set the timer and gone." 

He added, "We will find the culprit, it will be easy as his visuals alighting from the bus, purchasing tiffin at the eatery, sitting at a place and placing a bag have all come. We will find him at the earliest." 

Police sources informed that four persons have been detained for questioning in connection with the low-intensity bomb blast who were picked up from Dharwad, Hubballi and Bengaluru.

Rameshwaram Cafe, the co-founder and CEO of the eatery, Raghavendra Rao said, "One woman lost her eyes, and we are there with her. We are with our staff, four or five people, who are hurt very badly. We need all your blessings to show what the power of youth is and to say we are Indians and we are no less than anybody. We're going to launch on Friday with a good bang. And we need all of your support." 

Rameshwaram Cafe CEO said, "Such incident should not happen in future." He further asked govt to take strong action.

Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe Blast LIVE Updates: “Thousands of people visit the cafe everyday. Some people might have forgotten and left by mistake. In such cases, we inform the nearby police station. It had happened once earlier in our Rajaji Nagar branch and we immediately informed Police,” founder and CEO Raghavendra Rao said.

Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe Blast LIVE Updates: The Rameshwaram Cafe, which saw an IED explosion on Friday, March 1, is set to reopen on March 8 on the occassion of Mahashivratri.

“As we face this challenging situation, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the authorities for their support. We firmly believe that no force can dampen the spirit of our nation. We have decided to reopen our Brookfield outlet within a week of the unfortunate incident, which is on the auspicious day of Mahashivratri, the 8th of March (Friday). We extend a warm invitation to all authorities and customers to join us for our reopening. Let us unite in solidarity and demonstrate that together, we are unyielding in our commitment to moving forward,” said Raghavendra Rao, Co-Founder & CEO, Rameshwaram Café.