Delhi court extends interim bail of Pak 'spy'

[Mad Indian]

Delhi court extends interim bail of Pak ‘spy’ - The Times of India

NEW DELHI: A trial court on Wednesday extended the interim bail of a man who was arrested by police on suspicion of being a Pakistani spy who had come to India with the motive to kill Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi. The court gave the accused three more days to produce more evidence to prove his innocence.

Though the investigators had accused Imran to be a Pakistani spy, the chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police had accused him of only cheating, violating the Indian Penal Code and illegally entering India and breaching the Foreigners Act. Police had claimed that Imran and his wife Soofia were pushed into India from ISI's launch pads in Nepal to attack Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and other terror targets in the state.

As Imran surrendered before the court on Tuesday after the completion of his two weeks' interim bail, the court asked him and his co-accused wife if they wanted to plead guilty and be deported to Pakistan. Imran, however, said that he intended to settle in India permanently.

Imran's counsel, Nitin Ahlawat, urged that his bail be extended to allow him to bring back more documents to prove his innocence. Earlier also, Imran was given interim bail to collect and produce documents in support of his claim that he was a native of Gujarat and had left for Pakistan in 1980s where he had set up a textile business. He came back to India after his business collapsed during the 2008 economic slowdown and had travelled to the country before as well, Imran had added.

The court noted that none of the documents showed that Imran had come to India to settle here by renouncing his citizenship of Pakistan, and decided to give him more time to bring more documents.

Meanwhile, his Pakistani wife Soofia - who is presently in judicial custody - also moved a regular bail plea saying she has only been charged under the Foreigners Act. The court, however, sought to know where she would go if her bail is granted as she is not a citizen of India. At this, Imran's father came forward and said that he would take care of his daughter-in-law.

While the high-drama in the hearing came to an end, the court asked Imran not to come everyday and sit unnecessarily during his interim bail. The court also asked Imran to ask his father to wait for him outside the court in the next hearing.