The Bombay High Court has upheld the acquittal of Maulana Yahya Illahi Baksh, the former cleric of Haj House who was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) in 2006 for allegedly aiding terrorists having links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
A division bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Sarang Kotwal, on Tuesday, rejected the state government appeal which had challenged his acquittal by a lower court. The bench upheld that the lower court order had held that prosecution had failed to prove charges against the accused, said Advocate Mateen Shaikh, the counsel for Baksh.
Baksh, who resides in Kurla, has been doing odd jobs to sustain himself and his family since his job as a cleric was terminated after his arrest.
He said "It is a big relief to me and my family. It feels like its an Eid gift for me."
Advocate Shaikh and Shahid Nadeem, who represented baksh, said "If the accused wants, we can appeal in the high court by filing a writ petition seeking compensation for false implication by the police.
Additionally, directions can be sought from the court to the authorities to re-appoint him to the same post in Haj House."
Naeem Shaikh, of Mumbai Aman Committee, said "The message being sent out soon after the arrest of the Maulana was that a cleric of the community is associated with terrorism. It was not true then and now with the high court acquitting him, it has been sealed. Hope this message is passed on."
