Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammad Rohilla Amin Fakir, accused in the Saif Ali Khan stabbing case, has been remanded to police custody till January 29. After hearing arguments on the investigation, the court made its decision on Friday. Bangladeshi illegal Shariful was picked up along with his 5 associates in Thane on Jan 19. He was placed in five days of police custody initially; his remand was set to end Friday but was extended so he could be investigated.
The court said there had been substantial progress in the case but further pursuits have to be made into other aspects. It said that such an offense is seriously triable by the sessions court and deserved an exhaustive investigation. Even to ascertain the innocence of the accused, the court held, “Such investigation is necessary. Considering all the facts, BNSS Section 35 notice submissions don’t technically apply. Neither is there any information in the records that would show that it is illegal to arrest.”
The accused’s father, Ruhul Fakir, meanwhile, has also spoken out on his son’s behalf, saying he is being framed because he is an illegal immigrant. “We may be poor but we are not criminals,” he insisted. He used to live in Bangladesh as a bike taxi rider. “But Sheikh Hasina’s political turmoil while Awami League was in power forced him out of the country. A fierce promoter of Khaleda Zia, he was publicly lambasted for his support and decided to move to India for better opportunities.”
But Ruhul Fakir also said that he would take the issue up as a diplomatic concern with the Bangladeshi government, that his son is being unfairly targeted. The case has also raised debate over illegal immigration and the regulation and treatment of deported vulnerable migrants in India.
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