NEW DELHI: The family of Naqi Ahmed, who was arrested by the Maharashtra Police’s ATS (anti-terrorism squad)in the 13/7 Mumbai serial blasts case, has appealed to the Delhi Police to allow it to testify in court to establish his innocence.
Even as the Delhi Police’s special cell claimed that Naqi was its ‘informer’ and had played a crucial role in the arrest of the Indian Mujhaidden (IM)’s top leaders, said to be based in Mumbai, the ATS arrested him and was arraigned as the prime accused in the case. The ATS Chief Rakesh Maria had announced his arrest on Monday and claimed to have solved the case.
Naqi’s brother, Taqi Ahmed told journalists that he had approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Minorities, Delhi Police Commissioner B K Gupta and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to get justice.
He alleged that his brother was a victim of the rivalry between the special Cell (anti- terrorist) and the ATS personnel.
“My brother is innocent.
He was helping the Delhi Police’s special cell from December 9, 2011 till his surprise arrest by the ATS. We will go to the court and other forums to get justice for my brother,” he said.
Taqi also claimed to have met two officials of the special cell, with whom Naqi had gone to Mumbai.
“The two special cell officials assured me that they would testify in court that Naqi was indeed helping their investigation and that he was innocent,” he added.
ATS Chief Denies
Claim ATS Chief Maria, however, had claimed that Naqi was a close associate of IM’s India chief Yasin Bhatkal. He had rubbished the claims of Naqi’s relatives and said the ATS had hard evidence of Naqi’s close ties with Bhatkal since 2008.