NEW DELHI, Oct 9: Seven key accused in the Mumbai train blasts in July on Monday retracted their alleged confession to the police, saying they were illegally forced to sign blank papers, an Indian TV channel reported on Monday.

“In a surprise development, Faisal Sheikh, one of the prime accused in the 7/11 Mumbai serial train blasts, along with six others told a court in Mumbai that the confession statements were taken from them forcibly by the police,” Times Now TV channel said.

“All the seven accused have now retracted their statements in front of the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court,” the report said. “The investigations had revealed that Faisal Sheikh was a key master mind in the plotting of the blasts that claimed more than 200 lives,” the report said.

The Mumbai police chief A.N. Roy had caused a sensation by claiming that the case had been solved and that the ISI was directly involved in the attack on the commuter trains which killed nearly 200 on July 11.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said later that he would take up the issue of terrorism, particularly the Mumbai blasts, with the European Union. He also was quoted as saying that Pakistan would be given the evidence on the Mumbai blasts and was expected to act on it.

Time Now said on Monday that police officials who had claimed the case solved, were not available to explain the about turn by the crucial witnesses.