M A I N   N E W S

Rethink on POTO charge: Judge

Mumbai, March 27
A day after the Mumbai police moved to drop charges against suspected Al-Qaida activist Mohd. Afroz Abdul Razak under POTO, a special court today asked the police to think afresh on applicability of POTO or any other anti-terrorist law of Maharashtra against him and two others in a case of sedition.

However, the court allowed Afroz liberty to seek bail till April 9.

Hearing a petition filed by investigating officer for dropping POTO charge, designated judge A.P. Bhangale gave time to the police until April 9 to reconsider its decision and file chargesheet along with statements of police officers who visited foreign countries for probe in this case.

Adjourning the petition to April 9, the judge remanded Afroz to judicial custody till that date but suggested prima facie there was material to try the accused under POTO or the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Afroz, his brother Farooq and UK-based uncle Mubarak Musalman are charged with sedition and conspiring to blow up targets abroad. While Afroz was arrested on December 3 and booked under POTO on March 1, Farooq is absconding and Mubarak is a British national and, therefore, could not be produced before court here.

The judge informed the accused that in view of the stand taken by the police to withdraw POTO charge against him, he had a right to seek bail. However, Afroz said he did not wish to seek liberty until March 30 because he was undergoing meditation and yoga course in prison.

The judge noted that applicability of POTO or MCOCA was under his consideration and he would decide the police plea to drop POTO on April 9 after the chargesheet was filed. PTI