After six months in jail, 'Prime accused' in Malleswaram blasts walks to freedom

Bangalore, Oct 30: Peer Mohideen, who was named the “prime accused” by the City police in the First Information Report (FIR) in the Malleswaram bomb blasts, walked out of the Central Prison, Parappana Agrahara, a free man on Tuesday night, days after his name was omitted from the charge sheet.

A native of Tamil Nadu, Mohideen (39) had to spend six months in jail before investigators decided they had no substantial evidence against him. Saddam?Hussein (accused No 14) and Tenkasi Haneef (17) were also omitted from the charge sheet filed on October 19.

The 1st ACMM court ordered their release on Monday. Only Mohideen, however, could walk out of jail as Hussein and Haneef are set for trial in other cases in Tamil Nadu. The City police took them into custody on a body warrant.

For Fatima, Mohideen's wife, it was a happy and emotional reunion. Rasool Mohideen, a close relative, said the family would soon decide on their next course of action. He alleged that police “targeted Mohideen only because he is a Muslim”.

“The government is responsible for incarcerating an innocent man for six months. Nothing can compensate for the emotional, physical and mental torture that Peer and his family went through,” Rasool Mohideen stressed, adding that the government should compensate him in some way as a moral gesture.

S Balan, the defence counsel, said the case was “a classic case of the callousness of investigation agencies towards minorities”. The investigation was “preconceived,” he contended, adding that the case against 14 men who have been charge-sheeted was also “not strong”. He claimed they would also be eventually acquitted.

Mohideen, who sold biscuits, coffee powder and other confectionaries on a push cart in the City, was arrested along with his roommate Basheer from a lodge in Chennai, six days after the Malleswaram blasts on April 17, 2013.

In an affidavit before the High Court, the investigating officer, H M Omkaraiah, had stated that police were led to Mohideen after they analysed the call records of other suspects.

Basheer had received a call from a Karnataka mobile No (9980187434) just after the blast on April 17 and again the next day. The location showed the user of the number rushed to Chennai on April 18.

Police then tracked down the number to a lodge in Chennai and arrested Basheer and Mohideen, the user of the number. The affidavit stated that investigation revealed that Mohideen had another SIM card (9901044271), whose location was found to be the blast site at 9:40 am, just half hour before the blast.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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