Naqi innocent, tortured: family

New Delhi, January 25: Rubbishing the Mumbai ATS’s claims that Naqi Ahmed was linked to the 13/7 Mumbai blasts, his family on Monday said, “He is innocent and has been made to confess after being tortured.”

Naqi's brother Taqi Ahmed (24) told reporters here that he and his associates have approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), National Commission for Minorities, Delhi Police Commissioner and Union Home Minister P Chidambaram to obtain help for his "innocent" brother who has been wrongfully framed by the ATS in the serial blasts case which claimed 27 lives.

Naqi’s family had come prepared to file for his bail in Mumbai on Monday.

"My brother is innocent. He was helping the Special Cell (of Delhi police) from December 9, 2011 to January 9 recently after they had approached him for help in a case they were pursuing. We will go to the court and other forums to get justice for my brother," Taqi said at a press conference here.

Taqi was flanked by the representatives of Jamia Teacher's solidarity association and social organisation-- ANHAD.

Taqi, during the conference, also claimed that he met the two officials of Special Cell, with whom Naqi had gone to Mumbai, two days back and they have assured him that they would stand by his brother's "innocence".

"The two Special cell officials assured me that they would go to the court and testify that my brother Naqi was indeed helping in their investigation and that he is innocent," he said.

Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria had yesterday announced in Mumbai the arrest of Naqi and said he was indoctrinated by IM head Yasin Bhatkal and also that Naqi helped the IM mastermind to rent the third floor flat in Habib Building at Byculla last year.

--PTI