Indian officials have met Haneef, he is fine: Ahamed

By Liz Mathew, IANS

New Delhi : Officials from the Indian High Commission in Canberra have met Muhammad Haneef, the Indian doctor held in an Australian correction centre on charges of involvement with the failed British bombings, and said he is in good health, Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed said Saturday.

"Officials from the Indian high commission met Haneef Saturday and have told us that he is in good health," Ahamed told IANS over the phone from Bangalore.

"But Haneef is apparently very worried because more charges have been raised against him," Ahamed said.

The minister said the details about the meeting with the 27-year-old Indian doctor had been conveyed to his father-in-law in Bangalore by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The Indian government had Friday sought consular access to Haneef for the second time after his wife Firdous Arshiya met the minister in Bangalore.

The ministry also has arranged a visa for one of Haneef's family members to travel to Australia to help fight his case.

Haneef, who has been kept in solitary confinement, has been charged under Australia's counter-terrorism laws for allegedly supporting a terrorist organisation by "recklessly" giving his mobile phone SIM card to people planning the UK bomb attacks.

Although he was given bail, the Australian government has cancelled his 457 work visa and held him in immigration detention.

Meanwhile, the Australian media reported that the police have admitted the charges against Haneef were "incorrect".