Police framed Mozawala: Lawyer

Denying all allegations levelled by the police against Javed Mozawala.

Denying all allegations levelled by the police against Javed Mozawala,a 28-year-old visa agent from Mazgaon arrested for allegedly acting as a spy for Pakistan,his lawyer on Monday claimed the Mumbai Police Crime Branch was fabricating evidence such as photographs and documents to frame his client. The lawyer claimed Mozawala was being illegally detained by the police.

Mozawalas lawyer Mubin Solkar claimed nothing incriminating had been seized from his clients residence and no search was conducted by the police. He claimed no panchanama was prepared when he was picked up. While Javed was in police custody,he was taken to a restricted site in Lonavala where policemen clicked photographs and forced him to take some snaps. We fear these photographs will be foisted on Javed. We also apprehend that his mobile phones may be tampered with by the police. He has never been to any restricted sites before nor has he been in touch with any defence personnel, claimed Solkar.

When Javed was picked up,the police took some passports,original school and college certificates,his wallet and mobile phones. No search was conducted of the premises,and no seizure of any incriminating material took place. Neither was any panchanama drawn up or any receipts issued to his wife Fatima, said Solkar,at a press conference held at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh on Monday.

The police countered this claim. A panchanama was prepared and all due process was followed. We have sufficient evidence against Mozawala,which will be produced in court. These allegations are a usual ploy adopted by criminals after they are arrested, said Joint Commissioner of Police Crime Himanshu Roy.

According to the Crime Branch,a pen drive,CDs,photographs of restricted defence establishments and vital installations,confidential military intelligence documents and a terror manual was seized from Mozawalas residence. Mozawala also had restricted-use numbers of some defence officials,the police have stated.

Two certificates under different names of a civil aviation course attended by Mozawala were also seized by the police. The police believe this could have sinister implications.

According to Solkar,Mozawala had completed a basic civil aviation course in 2003. Since the first certificate was issued under a wrong name,a second certificate with the correct name was issued later. However,not wishing to pursue a career in the field,Mozawala worked at the Haj committee from 2004 to 2006 as a seasonal clerk. Mozawala then started Taiba Haj Corporation,Solkar said.

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Solkar said Mozawala had travelled to Pakistan twice to meet a cousin in Karachi.

My husband is innocent and a simple man. He is being falsely implicated. However,I have faith in Indian law and I am sure I will get justice, said Mozawalas wife Fatima.