Sabeel to be grilled on return

Sabeel, arrested on June 29, 2007, a day after the UK terror plot played itself out, has admitted that he concealed information about his brother8217;s terror plot. He has been sentenced to 18 months in jail but is however being repatriated to India since his legal status to stay in the UK as a medical student expired in July 2007.

On the request of the UK government last year, the CBI had asked the Corps of Detectives to investigate several aspects connected to the plot, including the bank accounts of Kafeel and Sabeel, the use of funds transferred to India by them, and details of communications retrieved from a computer hard disk belonging to Kafeel that was recovered from his home in Bangalore.

8220;Several aspects referred by the UK authorities and communicated to us through the CBI have been investigated and reports have been sent. However, there are still aspects that have to be probed and we will have to take a decision on this,8221; a police official said.

The Corps of Detectives would wait to see the terms of reference for Sabeel8217;s repatriation and its legal circumstances before deciding on taking the probe to a closure.

8220;There will be a set of conditions that will be intimated when he is sent back, we will consider those before asking any questions,8221; sources said.

Sabeel8217;s brother Kafeel, a 28-year-old aeronautical engineer, died of burns following a failed attempt to ram an explosive material-laden jeep into the Glasgow airport on June 28, 2007.

Meanwhile for Sabeel8217;s family, the news of the repatriation of their second son has lifted the sadness of the past year. For his mother Zakia Ahmed, a doctor herself, Sabeel8217;s mild sentence has been a vindication of her stand that her younger son was innocent regarding terrorism.

8220;Insha Allah, he will be coming back soon. I sincerely believed in his innocence,8221; Dr Zakia said while referring to the UK court8217;s observation that 8220;so far as you Sabeel personally were concerned there is no sign of your being an extremist or party to extremist views8221;.

Dr Zakia had soon after Sabeel8217;s arrest stated that she was confident he would be released. 8220;It will take some time for him to be cleared. He will be released honourably, I know, I am his mother,8221; she had said while talking about her son on July 4, 2007.

The family received reports on Sabeel from friends in the UK and occasionally spoke to him as well.

8220;It is really great news to know he is returning. We have not heard about when he will return however. Insha Allah, it will be soon,8221; said Sadia Kauser, Sabeel8217;s sister, who has being looking after her ailing father, Dr Maqbool Ahmed.

Though Sabeel has admitted to concealing knowledge of Kafeel8217;s attack, the family, like they did when he was declared dead, is maintaining that their Kafeel will return soon. 8220;He said he was gong on a project and will come back soon,8221; Dr Zakia said recalling her last telephonic conversation with her elder son.