July 28: Nadeem Akhtar Saifee, music director and prime accused in the Gulshan Kumar murder case, today urged the Bombay High Court for a certified copy of the criminal writ petition filed by the only approver in the case, Mohammed Ali Hussain Shaikh alias Chacha, alleging harassment by the police to obtain confession under duress.Nadeem's lawyer, Majeed Memon, submitted the application for the copy, saying it was required by Nadeem to defend himself before the Bow Street magistrate in London, where he is fighting an extradition case filed by the Indian government. Shaikh has filed a petition in the High Court alleging that the police have misued their power and have put words into his mouth to frame Nadeem in the case. The approver has also alleged that the police compelled him to disown or disengage his lawyer Kishore Sutrale, and foisted a police lawyer Mokashi on him. Besides, he has pointed to the ill-treatment meted out to him in custody and the threats given to his wife and daughter by police.Aletter to the chairman of the National Human Rights Commission, and a copy of the unrecorded confessional statements before the Metropolitan Magistrate, Ballard Pier, have also been referred to in the petition. Memon, who returned from London yesterday, said the Crown prosecution has sought three months time on behalf of the Indian government in the extradition case. The matter will now be heard before the Bow Street magistrate on October 12, 1998.
