Siraj’s friend allegedly detained, thrashed by cops for ‘helping him’
Social activist Imraan Khan, who stepped up to help alleged Pak national stay on in India, claims he was questioned about source of funds for fighting the case. He had just obtained anticipatory bail.
Social activist Imraan Khan, a friend of alleged Pakistani national Siraj Khan who was imprisoned after entering the country illegally as a 10-year-old, was illegally detained at RAK Marg police station on Friday even after he secured anticipatory bail from the sessions court after being booked for helping Siraj while he was hiding from the police.
Imraan, who claims he was targeted by law enforcement agencies, has been in hiding since a week as he was told by his relatives that the police are searching for him to arrest him for helping Siraj. Though Siraj got relief from the Bombay High Court against the detention order, police have allegedly been visiting Imraan’s residence and harassing his relatives.
“As I was leaving my residence, two policemen in plainclothes approached and asked me to accompany them to the police station. A friend saw this and informed my lawyers, who are helping Siraj Khan,” Imraan told Mirror.
“At the RAK Marg police station, I was abused by the cops and taken to the detection room, where they assaulted with batons and kicked me. They wanted to know if the funds to fight Siraj’s case are coming from across the border, and who is paying the lawyers fee. I answered that we are doing it as a social service and don’t have any vested interest, but they were not convinced. Meanwhile, our team of advocates reached the police station and demanded my release, after which they let me go. I was supposed to catch a train from CST, which I managed to board at Dadar finally,” added Imraan.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Bagwe said, “Imraan was not detained or assaulted. He is making false allegations to defame the police. There is a case against him and we will follow due process of law in our investigation.”
Imraan had spotted Siraj’s wife Sajida at the local DCP’s office. Sajida was weeping as her husband was soon to be deported to Pakistan. Moved by her plight, he approached a lawyer friend and helped Sajida appeal against the magistrate’s deportation order.
Two weeks ago, Siraj was released by RAK Marg police without any official documentation. As the news of Siraj’s release spread, the police called him back, but Siraj, who didn’t want to be detained again, went into hiding.
RAK Marg police booked Siraj under the Foreigners Act for escaping their lawful custody and Imraan was made a co-accused in the case for harbouring Siraj.
On Tuesday, Siraj was granted relief from the detention order and told to report to the police station every day.
“We have filed a complained with the Mumbai police commissioner about the incident. This behaviour is illegal and against the spirit of justice. To ask questions on foreign funding suggests that the police is not understanding the gravity of the issue and assuming that we have vested interest in Siraj staying on in India. Strict action should be taken against the police officials involved,” said social activist Raj Awasthi.
“This is not the first time that RAK Marg police have illegally detained people in this case. Sajida was detained and kept at the police station with male undertrials. She was accompanied by her three children. We have video evidence in this regard,” said Advocate Yousuf Khan.
Social activist Imraan Khan, a friend of alleged Pakistani national Siraj Khan who was imprisoned after entering the country illegally as a 10-year-old, was illegally detained at RAK Marg police station on Friday even after he secured anticipatory bail from the sessions court after being booked for helping Siraj while he was hiding from the police.
Imraan, who claims he was targeted by law enforcement agencies, has been in hiding since a week as he was told by his relatives that the police are searching for him to arrest him for helping Siraj. Though Siraj got relief from the Bombay High Court against the detention order, police have allegedly been visiting Imraan’s residence and harassing his relatives.
On Friday, after obtaining anticipatory bail from the court, Imraan returned home in the evening to collect his personal effects as he was to be married on October 16 in UP, from where he hails.
“As I was leaving my residence, two policemen in plainclothes approached and asked me to accompany them to the police station. A friend saw this and informed my lawyers, who are helping Siraj Khan,” Imraan told Mirror.
“At the RAK Marg police station, I was abused by the cops and taken to the detection room, where they assaulted with batons and kicked me. They wanted to know if the funds to fight Siraj’s case are coming from across the border, and who is paying the lawyers fee. I answered that we are doing it as a social service and don’t have any vested interest, but they were not convinced. Meanwhile, our team of advocates reached the police station and demanded my release, after which they let me go. I was supposed to catch a train from CST, which I managed to board at Dadar finally,” added Imraan.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Vijay Bagwe said, “Imraan was not detained or assaulted. He is making false allegations to defame the police. There is a case against him and we will follow due process of law in our investigation.”
Imraan had spotted Siraj’s wife Sajida at the local DCP’s office. Sajida was weeping as her husband was soon to be deported to Pakistan. Moved by her plight, he approached a lawyer friend and helped Sajida appeal against the magistrate’s deportation order.
Two weeks ago, Siraj was released by RAK Marg police without any official documentation. As the news of Siraj’s release spread, the police called him back, but Siraj, who didn’t want to be detained again, went into hiding.
RAK Marg police booked Siraj under the Foreigners Act for escaping their lawful custody and Imraan was made a co-accused in the case for harbouring Siraj.
On Tuesday, Siraj was granted relief from the detention order and told to report to the police station every day.
“We have filed a complained with the Mumbai police commissioner about the incident. This behaviour is illegal and against the spirit of justice. To ask questions on foreign funding suggests that the police is not understanding the gravity of the issue and assuming that we have vested interest in Siraj staying on in India. Strict action should be taken against the police officials involved,” said social activist Raj Awasthi.
“This is not the first time that RAK Marg police have illegally detained people in this case. Sajida was detained and kept at the police station with male undertrials. She was accompanied by her three children. We have video evidence in this regard,” said Advocate Yousuf Khan.
