NEW DELHI: A group of social activists and prominent journalists Saturday condemned the arrest of senior journalist Syed Mohammad Kazmi, saying that the Special Cell of Delhi Police had falsely implicated him in the terror attack on an Israeli diplomat's wife last month based on reports provided by Israeli agencies.
Addressing a press conference, advocate N.D. Pancholi said the Special Cell was known for "fabricating evidence".
"The Special Cell has a record of filing fabrications on the basis of frivolous documents. Most of the investigation conducted by the Special Cell of Delhi police was found to be false," said Pancholi while demanding that the case be transferred to another probe agency for fair investigation.
They said Kazmi was made a scapegoat in the case to please an international lobby.
Showing concern over media reports that Israeli investigating agencies were coming here to interrogate Kazmi, the members condemned it and demanded that no foreign agency should be permitted to interrogate any Indian national.
Senior Journalist Saeed Naqvi called the arrest as a step to reduce the power of the press.
He said: "On the day of Kazmi's arrest, the government was discussing about controlling the press."
Senior journalist Seema Mustafa demanded immediate release of Kazmi, saying that his arrest was an attempt to interfere on the expression of views and public thinking.
"The cause of Kazmi's arrest was his supporting views on Iran and his contribution in Syria recently," she added
Kazmi's son, Shauzab Kazmi reiterated that his father was innocent saying that he was a national hero, who had covered the Iraq War as a journalist.
The civil society members demanded that Kazmi be released on bail.
Accused Kazmi (52) was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police Tuesday night. He is in police custody.
Kazmi, who hails from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, is a resident of south Delhi's B.K. Dutt colony near Jor Bagh area.
A post-graduate in Persian from Delhi University, Kazmi has worked as a freelance journalist with DD News. He has also worked as a news reader for a Tehran-based radio station and was recently working as a freelancer for Iranian news agency IRNA.