Karnataka police arrest PDP leader Madani at Anwarssery, Kollam
Mangalore Today News Network
Kollam, August 17: Ending the eight-day long suspense, PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani was on Tuesday arrested amid high drama from his camp by the Karnataka Police in connection with the 2008 Bangalore blast case.
Hours before the deadline set by the Bangalore court was to expire, a Karnataka Police team executed the non-bailable arrest warrant as Madani emerged from his orphanage-cum-madrassa complex at Anwarassery here.
The vehicle in which Madani was supposed to go to the court at Karunagappilli for surrendering was seized by the Police in the premises of the Anwarssery Madrasa and delivered the arrest warrant. Madani was arrested inside the vehicle and was taken to Thiruvanathapuram Air Port. He will be taken to Bangalore by 7-40 Kingfisher flight. Madani will be produced in the residence of the Metropolitan Magistrate at Bangalore by night.
The arrests were made by the Karnataka Police with the support of Kerala police. PDP has called for Kerala Bundh on August 18.
Top police officials in the region have tighten the security in and around the Anwarssery area. District Armed Reserve Police have been deployed across the Kerala state to prevent any untoward activities by the member and supporters of People’s Democratic Party.
Madani had earlier in the day told reporters that he would surrender before a local court this afternoon after mid-day prayers with the orphanage inmates.
Maintaining that he was falsely implicated in the case as part of "a deep-rooted conspiracy", Madani said he wanted to surrender as he had faith in the judiciary and also he could record whatever he wanted to say in the court.
Madani has moved the Supreme Court seeking a stay on his arrest in the case.
Earlier, suspense continued over the arrest of Abdul Nasser Madani in the July 2008 serial blasts case on Monday, even as Karnataka accused Kerala of not cooperating with its police.
The Peoples Democratic Party leader has been still evading arrest, despite a contingent of 400-person strong armed police cordoning off Anwarssery in Kollam, where Madani has been staying. Kerala has promulgated prohibitory orders in and around Anwarssery.
The police were reluctant to enter Madani’s camp and arrest him due to the presence of a mosque and an orphanage in its premises. Such a forceful entry during the holy month of Ramzan might spark untoward incidents across Kerala.
Speculation was rife on Monday that Madani would be arrested, following the arrival of two senior police officers from Karnataka, joint commissioner (crime) Alok Kumar and assistant commissioner Omkarayya.
The police officers from Karnataka held discussions with the inspector-general of police A Hemachandran. Kumar also spoke to the superintendent of police in Kollam, Harshita Attaluri.
Meanwhile, the home minister of Karnataka, VS Acharya, told a Malayalam news channel that Kerala was not cooperating to arrest Madani.
“If Kerala is not cooperating we will have to think of some other option,” he said, adding that he had talked to his counterpart in Kerala, Kodeyeri Balakrishnan, on Friday.
Balakrishnan, however, denied the allegation, and said that his state had been extending all cooperation to Karnataka. He said there was no misunderstanding between the two states. The DGPs of both the states were in touch with each other, he said.
SC asks Madani to seek regular bail
New Delhi, Aug 17 : The Supreme Court today directed Kerala-based People’s Democratic Party leader Abdul Nasser Madani, an accused in 2008 Bangalore serial blasts case, to apply for a regular bail as he has already been arrested.
A bench of Justices Markandey Katju and T S Thakur also said that Madani can apply for an interim bail before the competent court, which shall be considered on the same day.
It said the competent court shall not be influenced by any of the observations made by the Karnataka High Court while dismissing his anticipatory bail on August 3.
The apex court said Madani’s anticipatory cannot be considered as he has already been arrested. The state counsel Sanjay Hegde informed the bench about his arrest in the afternoon.
Earlier, senior counsel Pinaki Mishra, appearing for the accused, alleged that Madani was arrested "to frustrate" his efforts in seeking anticipatory bail.
He claimed that though the non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Madani was issued on June 11, his arrest was effected only today to pre-empt his anticipatory bail.
The counsel further submitted that under section 43-D the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act, the grant of regular bail would also become difficult for the accused.
However, the apex court declined to entertain further argument on the issue and said the counsel can raise his grievances before the appropriate court at the time of applying for the regluar/interim bail.
The bench clarified that the court concerned was bound to hear the plea for interim bail on the same day as per the number of rulings laid down by it on earlier occasions.
The High Court had described the blasts as a "terrorist act" and said it was rejecting the bail plea considering the seriousness of the alleged offences committed by Madani.
The High Court had said the offences committed by Madani came very much under the purview of the Act and, therefore, "in view of the internal security and interests of the nation," the plea was being rejected.