Youth who heard Swami Aseemanand’s ‘confession’ says he wants to write memoir

"Aseemanand clearly told me he was involved in the blasts but he retracted his statement later and that is it," Shaik Abdul Kaleem said.

2 min readHyderabadApr 1, 2017 04:08 AM IST

Swami Aseemanand allegedly confessed his role in planning the Mecca Masjid blast to Shaik Abdul Kaleem while they were lodged at Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad.

Shaik Abdul Kaleem, 27, whom Swami Aseemanand allegedly confessed his role in planning the Mecca Masjid blast while they were lodged at Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad, plans to write a memoir but is wondering if anyone would publish it. “I want people to know what happens in these cases. Aseemanand clearly told me he was involved in the blasts but he retracted his statement later and that is it. I risked my life when I went to Ajmer and Panchakula to record my statement in courts hoping for justice. I do not know who to believe now,’’ Kaleem said.

Kaleem, who completed his LLB in 2013, was declined a job in law firms. He works in the office of Malakpet AIMIM MLA Ahmed Bhalala. “When I heard Aseemanand was acquitted in the Ajmer blast case, I could not believe it. I could not believe when he was granted bail in the Mecca Masjid blast case also. I put my life at risk and went to Ajmer and Panchkula to give evidence based on what Aseemanand confessed to me… at Chanchalguda Jail,” he said.

“He… told me how he and his group planned and executed the blasts, and apologised to me because I had to spend time in jail while he was the accused. He repented that,’’ Kaleem said.

Kaleem was rounded up by the police in July 2007 after the Mecca Masjid blast on suspicion of being involved in terror activities. He spent a year in jail and was acquitted on July 23, 2008. Subsequently, Kaleem did another stint in jail regarding a different case and has been charged with alleged assault in a third case.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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