The state Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) Monday denied allegations that Mirza Rizwan Baig,a witness in the 2012 Pune serial blasts,had committed suicide due to harassment by the agency. Baig had hanged himself at his residence in Chaush Colony,Aurangabad,on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile,Baig’s family claimed his body after the Aurangabad police assured them of an in-depthprobe.

Baig’s family had claimed that he was repeatedly summoned to Mumbai for questioning in connection with the blasts and was tortured despite the fact that he was suffering from a mental illness.

ATS chief Rakesh Maria said Baig had only been called to Mumbai twice and refuted the family’s claims. “Zabiuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal had told us he had given money to Baig to be handed over to Kashif Biyabani,another accused. Baig was first called to Mumbai on January 3,where we recorded his statement. We stopped halfway through as he was undergoing treatment for mental illness. He was called again on January 7,when we finished recording his statement. That was the extent of our inquiries,” Maria said.