A special court on Friday extended till March 10 the judicial custody of five accused booked under Prevention of Terrorism Act for triggering a bomb blast at suburban Ghatkopar in Mumbai on December 2, 2002.

The accused --- Mohammed Altaf, Imran Khan, Abdul Matin Abdul Basit, Shaikh Mohammed Muzzamil Jamil Ahmed and Jahir Ahmed Bashir Ahmed Shaikh --- were produced amidst tight security before designated POTA Judge A P Bhangale.

Altaf, who allegedly supplied explosives and funds to those who triggered the blast, was arrested in Dubai and flown to Mumbai on January 27, 2003.

Altaf is the second accused in the Ghatkopar blast to be deported from Dubai. Earlier, Irfan Rehman Khan was picked up and sent to Mumbai. Irfan has made a voluntary confession before a magistrate.

Six persons have been arrested in connection with the blast. However, Sayeed Khwaja Yunus Khwaja Ayub escaped from police custody on January 7 after a jeep carrying him to Aurangabad for investigation met with an accident.