By IANS,
Mumbai: A Muslim cleric, who was arrested and charged with indulging in terror activities, was acquitted Saturday by a Mumbai court, his lawyer said here.
Three others involved in the same case — all residents of Kashmir — have been found guilty and sentenced up to seven years in jail under various charges by Additional Sessions Judge V.P. Patkar of the Sewri fast track court.
The Mumbai Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) nabbed Maulana Mohammed Ghulam Yahya, the Imam of Haj House, in January 2006 for criminal conspiracy, terrorism, harbouring terrorists and related issues, said his lawyer D.U. Mirajkar.
Three persons were found living in the Haj House – Haji M.R. Abdul Wahab, K.A. Abdul Gani Lone, A.H. Badru Hussain. The police recovered several arms, ammunitions, timers, remotes, detonators and other explosives from the trio.
The Imam and the Kashmiri trio were arrested and charged under various sections of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act by the ATS, Mirajkar said.
The Kashmiri trio had earlier spent time in Kashmir jails under preventive detention before they came to Mumbai.
“The charges against the Imam could not be proved and he was acquitted,” said Mirajkar.
Shortly after the Imam stepped out of the court, a large crowd of prominent Muslims, including Maulana Ejaz Kashmiri, Imam of Handiwadi Mosque and Bombay Aman Committee president Farid Shaikh, greeted and hugged him.
The Imam immediately offered a thanksgiving ‘namaz’ in the court premises and later was taken away by his supporters shouting victory slogans.
Despite repeated attempts by IANS, special prosecutor Raja Thakre, who represented the state of Maharashtra, was not available for comment.
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