Thaindian News

New Delhi, May 19 (IANS) After 1993 Mumbai blasts accused Feroze Abdul Rashid Khan, who has been named in a list of Most Wanted fugitives given to Pakistan, was found to be in Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail, his lawyer said she was not aware of his name being on the list.

“I was not aware that he was on the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) list,” Khan’s lawyer Farhana Shah told NDTV news channel.

The lawyer expressed “surprise and disgust” over his name not being removed from the list.

“Really very surprising and very embarrassing and disgusting because the police, the IB (Intelligence Bureau), the CBI, whoever is handling the case, when the accused is not before the court, they wanted the red corner notice to be issued and that is done. But when the accused is coming before the court, no one cares that his name is cancelled from the list,” Shah said.

Lodged in the fortified Arthur Road Central Jail, Khan, listed in the dossier as Most Wanted criminal No.24, is facing trial in the March 12, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. According to the list, he is shown as a wanted accused in the case along with the absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar.

Shah also denied Khan had ever visited Pakistan.

“No no, he was never in Pakistan,” she said.

She also said that a supplementary report has been filed against him and the charges have not been framed so far “because we have moved a bail application for him which has been rejected”.

The matter is posted for May 23, she said.

This is the second goof-up in the list. Wazhul Qamar Khan, accused number 42, alleged to be in Pakistan, was found working and living with his family in Thane.

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram expressed regrets and later Wazhul’s name was struck off the list.