Mumbai, Aug 10: A team of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) raided a house and a shop in Nala Sopara in the wee hours of Friday during which some suspicious material was recovered. The house and shop belonged to a man called Vaibhav Raut who is a suspected right-wing Sanatan Sanstha activist, members of which are accused in bomb blast cases in Navi Mumbai and Goa, and killings of rationalists.

The ATS recovered at least eight country-made bombs from Raut's house in Bhandar Gaali in Nala Sopara west and raw material to make explosives from his shop, reported India TV. Raw material includes large quantity gunpowder and detonators. The ATS conducted the raid following specific intelligence inputs. Sleuth of ATS had been keeping an eye on Raut's activities since last few days. (ALSO READ: 32-Year-Old ‘Terrorist’ Nabbed by Maharashtra ATS Was ‘Trained in Pakistan’)

The ATS detained Raut and is likely to present him before the Bhoiwada Court in Mumbai later this afternoon. "Forensics experts have been called, and we are analysing the substance to determine if it is RDX," an official was quoted as saying. Officials of Palghar Police were also on the spot. Further investigation into the matter was underway. (ALSO READ: Terror Attack in Mumbai Averted? Maharashtra ATS Arrests 32-Year-Old Man For Planning Attacks in State & Other Parts of Country)

Raut's lawyer Sanjeev Punhalekar told the media that Raut was not a Sanatan Sanstha activist and his name was being linked to defame the organisation. Raut is also said to be linked to the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti.

Sanatan Sanstha has been under scanner since some of its members were allegedly found involved in four bombings in Vashi, Thane, Panvel (all in 2007) and Goa (in 2009) and the murders of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 10, 2018 08:27 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).