Pune Gangland: Feroz’s Brother Claims Innocence Amid Serial Blasts Case

By India Crime Correspondent

PUNE, 13 October, 2012

• Challenging the Accusations: Feroz’s Family Defends His Innocence
• Relatives Assert Feroz’s Non-Involvement in the Blasts
• Family Denies Involvement in August 1 Blasts; Questions Timing of Arrest

A day after Delhi police arrested Sayyed Feroz in relation to the August 1 serial blasts on Jangli Maharaj Road, his brother, Fayyaz, spoke out on Friday, vehemently stating that Feroz has been wrongly implicated in the case.

Fayyaz firmly denied any connection between Feroz and the blasts, emphasizing that Feroz had no involvement in such activities whatsoever.

Suspicion Arises Over Arrest Timing

In a perplexing turn of events, Fayyaz raised questions about the timing of his brother’s arrest. He pointed out that while the blasts had occurred more than two months ago, no arrests had been made until now.

He noted that Feroz had been present in the city following the blasts, and the arrest only came about when he traveled to Delhi a few days ago.

Fayyaz questioned the rationale behind arresting his brother after his visit to Delhi, suggesting that the arrest seemed to indicate Feroz being framed in the case.

Resolute Family Vows to Fight Legal Battle

Deeply shocked by the developments, Fayyaz stated that the family has resolved to fight against the allegations.

They are in the process of enlisting legal representation in Delhi to contest the case. He shared that the uncertainty surrounding the situation had caused great distress, making it difficult for anyone to sleep.

He added that their last communication with Feroz occurred a few days prior when Feroz had indicated his plans to return home within a short span.

Feroz’s Life and Business Ventures

Fayyaz disclosed that Feroz had traveled to Delhi with the intention of purchasing cloth and other materials for his tailoring business.

Feroz was dedicated to his tailoring enterprise and had been working diligently to expand his business in Pune.

Fayyaz revealed that aside from running two shops in Pune Camp area, Feroz had aspirations to establish an additional shop in Kondhwa.

Feroz’s pursuits extended beyond business; he had previously undertaken the Haj pilgrimage three times and even facilitated the arrangement of passports and visas for fellow pilgrims.

Community Expresses Surprise

As news spread about Feroz’s arrest, his two shops in the Pune Camp area remained shuttered, and his residence in Guruwar Peth remained locked.

Local residents expressed astonishment at Feroz’s alleged connection to the blasts. Police presence was noted around the closed shops.

Unearthing Recruitment and Gathering Information

Local authorities and anti-terrorism squads admitted to a lack of information about Feroz’s activities, despite his presence in the city until September 25.

A senior police officer acknowledged the challenge of determining how Feroz, a prosperous businessman, became involved with Indian Mujahideen members.

The officer indicated that this situation could extend to other individuals within the city, making it difficult to trace such connections.

Missed Surveillance and Intelligence

A senior officer from the crime branch revealed that a dedicated team has been mobilized to gather information regarding the funding collection for the transportation of Quateel Siddiqui’s body to Darbhanga in Bihar.

This information, however, was likely to be beyond Feroz’s purview. The officer admitted that Feroz might have played a role in fundraising, underscoring the need for comprehensive surveillance to uncover potential terror links.

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