Photo: Vivek Bendre

CONVICTED: Mohamed Afroze is escorted out of a Mumbai court on Friday after he was sentenced to seven-year imprisonment for conspiring to blow up Parliament.

MUMBAI: A special court on Friday convicted Mohammed Afroze Abdul Razzak, suspected to be an Al-Qaeda operative in 2001, and sentenced him to seven-year rigorous imprisonment and fines adding up to Rs. 20,000. Special judge A. P. Bhangale found him guilty under Section 126 (committing depredation on territories of power at peace with the Government of India) read with Section 120-B (conspiracy) and 467 (forgery) of the Indian Penal Code.

He was however acquitted under Section 121-A (waging war against the country) for lack of evidence.

Brother acquitted

His brother, Mohammed Farooq Abdul Razzak, was acquitted of all the charges.

Afroze (29) was picked up in Trombay in October 2001 for theft. When he was handed over to the Mumbai police, he was charged with having links with terrorists and with having conspired along with his uncle, Mubarak Mussalman, based in the United Kingdom, to bomb the Houses of Parliament in London, the Parliament House in India and Rialto Towers in Australia.

The Mumbai police initially booked him under the Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance but later withdrew the charge as it could not be applied retrospectively. Afroze was also charged with forgery for producing fake certificates to get admission to flying schools.

"Serious matter"

Special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the court that the matter was very serious in the backdrop of the recent London blasts and a deterrent punishment should be awarded. He would advise the State to appeal against the acquittal of Afroze under Section 121-A and also for enhancement of the punishment.

Defence lawyer Mobin Solkar argued that the circumstances had changed in five years and today Afroze was married with a seven-month-old son. He urged minimal punishment as Afroze was young and his family depended on him.

He later said an appeal would be filed in the High Court.

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