Ramesh Upadhyay, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case, on Tuesday claimed that he was implicated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) due to the then United Progressive Alliance government's pressure to "justify their Hindu terror theory". In his statement submitted before the special NIA court here, he claimed he was innocent and had nothing to do with the blast, reported news agency PTI.

"I am an innocent accused, falsely framed in this case by the Anti Terrorism Squad, Mumbai, due to political pressure exerted upon them by the UPA governments at the Centre & the state to somehow justify their Hindu terror theory," the statement said. The ATS not only tortured him physically, but also harassed him mentally in "illegal custody", it said, reported PTI.