Jamiat Ulema-e-Maharashtra general secretary Gulzar Azmi on Monday alleged that he felt a connection between BJP MLA Ashish Shelar's recent remarks against his organisation, and a threat call to him December 13 allegedly by gangster Ravi Pujari.
In a complaint to the police, Azmi has named Shelar, the underworld operative and some 'unknown police officers', who he says might be involved as the Jamiat has defeated the police repeatedly in court. Azmi further said that the Jamiat was willing to help alleged Islamic State (IS) recruit Areeb Majeed if his family approached them.
Azmi, 83, who is also a member of state minority commission, pointed out that earlier this month, Shelar had alleged that Azmi and his brothers had links with gangster Chhota Shakeel and that he was aiding terrorists.
"So far nobody from our organisation never received any threat, but we received one after Shelar demanded a ban on the organisation claiming that our office-bearers have links with the Shakeel gang. On Saturday (Dec 13), I received a call from a person who identified himself as Ravi Pujari. He told me to stop the visits of Dawood men," said Azmi.
Referring to Shelar, Pujari and a few high-ranking policemen – he refused to divulge the names, the octogenarian said, "These people will be held responsible if anything wrong happens to me or my family."
Jamiat claimed that it has been been providing free legal aid to innocent Muslim youths for the past eight years and has helped hundreds of them getting acquitted by courts. "We have been successful in getting Fahim Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed acquitted from 26/11 case. We have also been providing legal aid to 400 persons, including non-Muslims, booked in 55 cases across India," said Azmi.
Asked whether Jamiat would provide legal assistance to Areeb Majeed, who was accused to have joined terrorist organisation ISIS, Azmi said, "Majeed and his family had supported the agencies, but he was arrested. If Majeed's family approaches us, we would do a background check and then assist them."
When 'Ravi Pujari' called Gulzar Azmi
Azmi: Hello
RP: You are fighting cases of terrorists and persons of Dawood are visiting your office regularly.
Azmi: Shut up your mouth
RP: I am Ravi Pujari speaking. Whatever I am speaking should be listened and do good work.
Azmi: We are doing good work. We are giving school fees to children irrespective of religion
RP: Stop the visit of Dawood men. Now i am speaking sweetly, later i will speak with bullet
Azmi: I am ready for that bullet.
RP: Where is Mustakim?
Azmi: He is not here, he must be somewhere in Mumbai.
The caller then disconnected the call.
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