Tue, 28 Dec 2010
Lawyer claims Crime Branch fabricated evidence to nail Mozawala
Advocate Mubin Solkar with Javed Mozawala
Express News Service
Tags : Javed Mozawala, Mumbai Police Crime Branch, Mozawala’s lawyer Mubin Solkar
Posted: Tue Dec 28 2010, 23:23 hrs
Mumbai:
Denying all allegations levelled by the police against Javed Mozawala, a 28-year-old visa agent from Mazgaon arrested for allegedly acting as a spy for Pakistan, his lawyer on Monday claimed the Mumbai Police Crime Branch was fabricating evidence such as photographs and documents to frame his client. The laywer claimed Mozawala was being illegaly detained by the police.
Mozawala’s lawyer Mubin Solkar claimed nothing incriminating had been siezed from his client’s residence and no search was conducted by the police. He claimed no panchanama was prepared when he was picked up.
“While Javed was in police custody, he was taken to a restricted site in Lonavala where policemen clicked photographs and forced him to take some snaps himself. We fear that these photographs will be foisted on Javed. We also apprehend that his mobile phones may be tampered with by the police. He has never been to any restricted sites before, and nor has he been in touch with any defence personnel,” claimed Solkar.
“When Javed was picked up, the police took some passports, original school and college certificates, his wallet and mobile phones. No search was conducted of the premises, and no seizure of any incriminating material took place. Neither was any panchanama drawn up or any receipts issued to his wife Fatima,” said Solkar, at a press conference held at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh at Azad Maidan on Monday evening.
But the police countered this claim. “A panchanama was prepared and all due process was followed. We have sufficient evidence against Mozawala, which will be produced in court. These allegations are a usual ploy adopted by criminals after they are arrested,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Himanshu Roy. According to the Crime Branch a pen drive, CDs, photographs of restricted defence establishments and vital installations, confidential military intelligence documents and a terror manual was seized from Mozawala’s residence. Mozawala also had restricted-use numbers of some defence officials, the police have stated.
Two certificates under different names of a civil aviation course attended by Mozawala were also seized by the police. The police believe that this could have “sinister implications”. According to Solkar, Mozawala had completed a basic civil aviation course in 2003. Since the first certificate was issued under a wrong name, a second certificate with the correct name was later issued to him. However, not wishing to pursue a career in the field, Mozawala worked at the Haj committee from 2004 to 2006 as a seasonal clerk who filled up forms for pilgrims. Mozawala then started Taiba Haj Corporation, Solkar said.
Solkar said Mozawala had travelled to Pakistan twice to meet a cousin in Karachi. “In 2005, Javed and his family attended his cousin Danish Quetawala’s wedding in Pakistan. Again in 2006, he went with his wife to Pakistan after Danish’s wife gave birth to a boy. Recently, Danish had expressed his desire to visit India. It was for these visa purposes only that Javed had approached the Pakistan High Commission,” said Solkar.
Solkar also claimed that while the police have stated that Mozawala was arrested at 11 pm on December 8, he was actually picked up from his residence at 10.30 pm on December 7 and illegaly detained. He was produced in court at 5.45 pm on December 9, Solkar stated.
“My husband is innocent and is a simple man. He is being falsely implicated. However, I have faith in Indian law and I am sure I will get justice,” said Mozawala’s wife Fatima.
