A dank street lined with goats tied to lamp-posts in the congested Imam Bada area of Bhendi Bazaar leads to the office of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind’s Maharashtra head-office. The organization has found itself under the scanner after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis agreed to an inquiry into whether the organisation’s legal aid head has any underworld links.
The man at the centre of the renewed attention question is the lungi-clad, paan-chewing Gulzar Azmi, a wiry septugenarian who heads the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hinds legal aid committee which has been providing legal aid to 410 Muslims who are accused in 56 terror-related cases across the country.
Azmi who operates from the two storeyed building claims that the allegations against him and his organization are a ploy by the BJP to target the organisation and deflect attention from its own failure in governance. BJP MLA from Bandra Ashish Shelar had on December 11 sought a ban on the organization and claimed that it had links with the underworld.
“The head of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind which helps many of the terror accused and those involved in serious criminal cases has links with Chhota Shakeel. The government should inquire into the working of this organisation and if need arises should ban it,” BJP MLA Ashish Shelar had said on the floor of the Legislative Assembly. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis supported his party MLA and said that the government would probe the allegations made by Shelar. “They are unnecessarily targetting us to hide their own failure in governing the state and the country. Had they linked me up with Abu Salem who is from my home district of Azamgarh people would have found it a bit plausible. It is funny that they have linked me with Chotta Shakeel with whom I have no connection,” Azmi said.
The organisation, which has spent Rs 2.89 croroe in 2013 to provide legal aid for Muslim terror accused, claimed that the bulk of the money it received was through public donations made during the holy month of Ramzan. “We are a trust and all the money comes through public donations. Our funds are all accounted for. We are ready to face any probe that the government wants to carry out,” Azmi added.
The Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind is a 95 year old organisation of Muslim clerics. It started its legal aid wing only in 2007 after a spate of arrests of Muslim youth in 2006 in Maharashtra.
“In 2006 one after the other nearly 43 Muslim boys were picked up by the police and arrested for their alleged involvement in terror cases. The families tried to fund their legal defense on their own initially but later had asked us for help. Our organization leadership therafter decided that we should support them and a legal defense cell was formed,” Azmi said.
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The organisation is presently fighting 56 terror cases in which 410 Muslims are under arrest. It funds local lawyers as well as noted lawyers like K T Tulsi, Kamini Jaiswal and Shanti Bhushan to fight on behalf of the accused.
“We do a screening at out level to check the antecedents of the people who approach us. We only take up cases of those who are innocent. Till date we have won 22 cases in which 56 people have been acquitted. We have managed to get 25 people out on bail,” Azmi said.
The organisation, however, has had its share of failures and two individuals for whom it was fighting were convicted. Javed Mozawala was convicted by a court for seven years on charges of spying for Pakistan’s ISI. The court sentenced the Mazgaon resident to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. Another convict has been Mohammad Shafi Qamar Afghani (35) who was sentenced to five years under the Official Secrets Act.
Azmi claims that inspite of these setbacks the organization will continue to work to protect innocent Muslims. However many in the organization acknowledge the danger that its members face. There had been hectic deliberations in the organizations office over the placement of additional CCTV cameras after reported threats of the Ravi Pujari gang to target the organisations office bearers.
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“You only live till the time that has been ordained by God. There is no point of being scared by anyone. We will continue doing what we have been doing,” Azmi says.
Zeeshan Shaikh is the Associate Editor who heads The Indian Express' Mumbai reporting team. He is recognized for his highly specialized Expertise in analyzing the complex dynamics of Maharashtra politics and critical minority issues, providing in-depth, nuanced, and Trustworthy reports.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Associate Editor leading the Mumbai reporting team, Zeeshan Shaikh holds a position of significant Authority and journalistic responsibility at a leading national newspaper.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on two interconnected, high-impact areas:
Maharashtra Politics & Urban Power Structures: Provides deep-dive analyses into political strategies, municipal elections (e.g., BMC polls), the history of alliances (e.g., Shiv Sena's shifting partners), and the changing demographics that influence civic power in Mumbai.
Minority Issues and Socio-Political Trends: Excels in coverage of the Muslim community's representation in power, demographic shifts, socio-economic challenges, and the historical context of sensitive political and cultural issues (e.g., the 'Vande Mataram' debate's roots in the BMC).
Investigative Depth: His articles frequently delve into the historical roots and contemporary consequences of major events, ranging from the rise of extremist groups in specific villages (e.g., Borivali-Padgha) to the long-term collapse of established political parties (e.g., Congress in Mumbai).
Trustworthiness & Credibility
Data-Driven Analysis: Zeeshan's work often incorporates empirical data, such as National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) statistics on arrests and convictions of minorities, or data on asset growth of politicians, grounding his reports in factual evidence.
Focus on Hinterland Issues: While based in Mumbai, he maintains a wide lens, covering issues affecting the state's hinterlands, including water crises, infrastructure delays, and the plight of marginalized communities (e.g., manual scavengers).
Institutional Affiliation: His senior position at The Indian Express—a publication known for its tradition of rigorous political and investigative journalism—underscores the high level of editorial vetting and Trustworthiness of his reports.
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