Hanif under interrogation

SURAT, July 8: Hanif Meman, whose love affair with a Jain girl triggered communal skirmishes in Bardoli in past few days is now being interrogated at an undisclosed destination by the police. The 33-year-old vehicle broker has been remanded to police custody till Thursday.

Police said that Hanif was arrested from a hotel at Vapi on Sunday evening. However, Paradise Hotel from where he was reportedly arrested has issued an advertisement in vernacular newspapers denying that he ever stayed there.

Hanif is facing charges of kidnapping a minor, luring her into marriage and raping her. Both Hanif and Varsha Shah have disputed these charges saying they are in love. Hanif said he was even ready to begin practicing Jainism Varsha8217;s religion in order to marry her. Police told reporters that they had also traced the involvement of Hanif in other offences like vehicle thefts, bootlegging and rioting.