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Ghatkopar blast accused alleges forced confession
February 18, 2003 21:23 IST
Mohammed Altaf, an accused in the Ghatkopar bomb blast case, on Tuesday alleged before a special court that the Mumbai police had forcibly obtained his signature on a bogus version of his confession.
The magistrate subsequently allowed him to pen down his statement.
Altaf, appearing before designated Prevention of Terrorism Act judge A P Bhangale, said the police had recorded his confession on Monday and obtained his signature on a document.
But when he was produced before a magistrate for confirmation, he found that it was not the same statement he had made before police. Thereafter, Altaf said, he wrote down nine pages of his confession and submitted it before the magistrate.
His confession before the magistrate was produced in the court in a sealed cover. The judge opened the cover and went through his confession. It was also shown to the accused and he confirmed that this was the true and voluntary confession he had made.
Altaf, who was deported from Dubai last month, in his confession said, "Myself, Matin, Yunus, Muzamil and Zaheer are innocent and not involved in Ghatkopar bomb blast or in the conspiracy to trigger the explosion."
"We do not believe in jihad. Jihad is not wanted in India. It may be relevant in Palestine, but not in India. We also do not believe in fundamentalist activities," the confession added.
The court has remanded him to further custody.
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