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Abdul Nazer Mahdani

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Abdunnasir Ma'dani
Personal details
Born (1966-01-18) 18 January 1966 (age 58)
Sasthamkotta, Kollam, Kerala, India
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party
SpouseSoofiya Ma'dani
Children3
Alma materJami'a Nooriyya Arabic College
Occupation

Abdul Nasar Ma'dani (born 18 January 1966),[1] also spelled Abdunnasir Ma'dani[2] is an Indian politician and Islamic cleric. He is the leader of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Kerala.[3]

Mahdani was accused of involving in 1998 Coimbatore bombings, but was acquitted of all charges after spending 9+1⁄2 years in Coimbatore Central Prison.[4][5] He is currently under judicial custody at Karnataka in relation with the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts.[6]

Personal life

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Ma'dani was born at Anvarserry, Mynagappally, Kollam district to Abdul Samad and Asma Beevi on 18 January 1966.[7][8] He is married to Soofiya Ma'dani and the couple has three children; a daughter named Shameera and two sons named Umar Mukhthar and Salaludin Ayoobi. Umar Mukhthar is married to Nihammat a native of Thalassery.[9]

His wife Soofiya Ma'dani was the tenth accused in 2005 Kalamassery bus burning case.[10]

He lost his right leg on 6 August 1992 following a bombing attack near Anwarserry and is using Prosthetic leg since then.[11][12][13][14]

Political Activism and allies

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At a young age, Mahdani began delivering sermons at a local mosque in the Kollam district. His oratory skills were well received, and he soon built up a following.[15] He subsequently formed the Islamic Seva Sangh (ISS) in 1989. This organization was banned following Demolition of the Babri Masjid. In 1992 he launched a new outfit named Peoples Democratic Party (India) calling for Muslim - Dalit movement.[16]

Though he was jailed since 1998, in 2001 Kerala Legislative Assembly election his outfit backed the United Democratic Front and in 2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly election his party backed Left Democratic Front.[17] He and his political outfit was in alliance with Communist Party of India (Marxist) for 2009 Indian general elections.[18] He is still the chairman of Peoples Democratic Party.

Chengara Solidarity March

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Abdul Nasser Mahdani delivered a speech at Chengara Adivasi Protest in support of the struggle in May 2008. He declared the objective of Muslim-Dalit-Adivasi Unity under the banner of "Power to Avarnas and Liberation to The Oppressed[19][20]

Incarceration and release

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1998 Arrests and release

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Ma'dani was arrested by Kerala Police under the leadership of Jacob Thomas IPS on March 31, 1998 from residence at Kaloor in connection with 1998 Coimbatore bombings. He was initially shifted to Kozhikode and then to Tamil Nadu.[21] He was released on August 1, 2007 after acquittal in this case.[22]

Free Ma'dani Campaigns

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In March 16, 2006 Kerala Legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution seeking release of Ma'dani on humanitarian grounds from Coimbatore Central Prison in connection with 1998 blasts.[23]

His political outfit Peoples Democratic Party and politicians like K. T. Jaleel has also voiced for release of Ma'dani.[24]

With the aim of providing legal and financial aid to PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Ma'dani, who has been arrested in connection with the Bangalore blast case, to wage legal and political battle, Justice For Ma'dani Forum was constituted under the aegis of various Muslim organisations on 25 August 2010.[25] The Justice for Ma'dani Forum demanded that the Bangalore blast case, in which PDP leader Abdul Nasser Ma'dani, has been listed as an accused, should be probed by any agency outside the state of Karnataka, preferably by the National Investigation Agency.[26]

There are a section of society who claims that Ma'dani is unlawfully kept in undertrial for long and is framed.[27]

2010 arrest

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Ma'dani was arrested by a join team of Karnataka Police and Kerala Police from his residence at Kollam district on August 17, 2010.[28] He was lodged in Central Prison, Bangalore after the arrests.

Bails after 2010 arrest

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Mahdani while being arrested for Bangalore blast case

In March 2013 Mahdani was granted a 5-day interim bail to attend his daughter's wedding and to visit his ailing father.[29] In 2013 bail he has made controversial remarks during speech at daughter's wedding.[30] On 21 October 2013, the Supreme Court of India directed the Karnataka Government to immediately shift Mahdani to a private hospital for treatment. The court also allowed his wife to be along with him as a bystander during his stay in the hospital.[31] In November 2014 Government of Karnataka submitted that the enquiries for trial will be completed in six months.[32]

On 24 July 2017, his bail application for attending his son's marriage on 9 August was initially rejected by NIA court. In response to this, his party PDP called for statewide Hartal in Kerala on 26 July 2017.[33] Later Supreme Court of India granted him 7 day bail from Aug 7 - August 14 to attend his son's wedding at Thalassery.[9]

In 2018 October he was granted bail for visiting his ailing mother.[8] In 2021 Supreme Court rejected his plea for further relaxations in 2014 bail conditions.[34]

Controversies

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Islamic Seva Sangh

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Mahdani had set up the Islamic Seva Sangh in 1989. It was banned in 1992 for alleged subversive act along with SIMI and Jamaat-e-Islami following the Babri Masjid demolition.[15][35][36]

Hate Speeches

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There were numerous cases against him charged by Kerala Police for making inflammatory speeches and issuing vitriolic communal statements post Babri Masjid demolition.There is nearly 24 cases charged against him in Kerala.[37]

Alleged involvement in Coimbatore blast case

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Ma'dani after his release from Coimbatore jail

He was allegedly involved in the 1998 Coimbatore bombings held on 14 February 1998, that killed 58 people. Mahdani was imprisoned for nine years in this case in Tamil Nadu. Later, Mahdani was acquitted of all charge.[38]

Alleged involvement in Bangalore Blasts

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Connections with Thadiyantavide Nazeer

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Investigators allege that suspected south India commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba Thadiyantavide Nazeer came into militancy through ISS founded by Mahdani.[39][40] Nazeer is suspected to have established links with LeT[40][41] and was picked up by Bangladeshi authorities and handed over to BSF on the Meghalaya border.[40][42] In connection with the Bangalore blast case, police have presented phone records to the court proving that Ma'dani contacted the main accused Nazeer several times before and after the blast. Phone calls were made from a number registered in Ma'dani's wife Soofiya's name.[43][44]

According to the police, after orchestrating the blasts Nasir went in hiding at Ma'dani's office at Anvarssery.[45] However Ma'dani's advocate B. V. Acharya has contended that it is "only a make believe theory to implicate Ma'dani".[46] Nazeer has also confessed that he has coordinated the 2005 Kalamassery bus burning case for release of Ma'dani from Coimbatore jail.

High Court and Supreme court observations in Bangalore blast case

Ma'dani is lodged in Karnataka jail and is in judicial custody for his involvement in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts, which killed one person and injured 20 more, and for similar incidents in Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur.[47] As per former Karnataka state Home Minister V. S. Acharya, Mahdani also allegedly admitted role in the 2010 Bangalore stadium bombing on 17 April 2010,[48] which he had denied earlier.[49][50] This assertion regarding the confession of Mahdani was rejected by Mahdani's counsel and said that the allegation baseless and devoid of facts, and is politically motivated.[51] After a court issued a fresh non-bailable warrant,[52] Mahdani claimed that he proffered to surrender so as to avoid 'unpleasant situations' when he was to be arrested.[53]

On 11 February 2011, the Karnataka High Court had rejected Mahdani's plea stating that there is no direct evidence of conspiracies against Ma'dani.[54] At the final hearing Justice Markandey Katju uttered that he was wondering as to how a person on a wheel chair could pose a threat if released on bail.[55]The Supreme Court bench was divided on granting bail to Mahdani and posted the matter to Chief Justice of India to form a new bench to decide on the plea.[56] However, in 2013 -14 court relaxed bail conditions and Ma'dani was granted bail on personal grounds by courts multiple times between 2013 and 2018. In 2020 Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde called him a dangerous man on a plea for further relaxation in bail conditions.[32]

Murder attempt case

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Madhani has been named the first accused in a case registered in 2013 relating to the alleged attempt in 1998 to murder RSS ideologue P. Parameswaran and Father K. K. Alavi, a convert into Christianity from Islam.[57] The case relates to Ma'dani offering money to murder both individuals. Ma'dani dismissed the charges and said he was not involved in it and alleged political conspiracy against him.[57] In September 2015, Crime Branch had submitted to the court that Parameswaran and Alavi had stated that they had never faced any attempt on their life as alleged in the complaint and that no evidence could be obtained to substantiate this allegation against Mahdani.[58][59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Court nod for Ma'dani to visit ailing mum in Kerala". Gulf-Times (in Arabic). 15 May 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  2. ^ TwoCircles.net (9 July 2010). "No anticipatory bail for Abdunnasir Ma'dani". TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Abdul Nasser Madani involved in more blast cases: Karnataka Police". The Times of India. 26 July 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  4. ^ "Maudhany freed, Basha found guilty in Coimbatore blasts case". The Hindu. 2 August 2007. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  5. ^ "Madani's custody in Bangalore takes political colour". Indian Express. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  6. ^ Madani pretending to be ill, SC told - Rediff.com India News
  7. ^ "Abdul Nasser Madani visits his father". The Indian Express. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Madani's mother Asma Beevi passes away". Mathrubhumi. 6 November 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b "Madani arrives at Thalassery for son's wedding amid tight security". Mathrubhumi. 9 August 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  10. ^ Emmanuel, Gladwin (15 December 2009). "Soofiya Madani's anticipatory bail plea adjourned by HC". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  11. ^ "Five acquitted in Madhani murder attempt case". The New Indian Express. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  12. ^ "HC directs RSS leader to surrender in Madani attack case". One India. 11 September 2006. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  13. ^ Madani slams CBI, Karnataka cops. deccanchronicle.com. 13 June 2010
  14. ^ HC directs RSS leader to surrender in Madani attack case. News.oneindia.in (11 September 2006). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  15. ^ a b Special: Are Kerala's Muslims enamoured with Abdul Nasser Madani?. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  16. ^ "The Hindu : Kerala / Kollam News : Four PDP members expelled from party". 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  17. ^ "Kerala polls: UDF, LDF woo rabble-rousing Abdul Nasser Madani". India Today. 17 April 2006. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  18. ^ "CPM brings ally PDP out in the open - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  19. ^ Free Maudany Campaign (30 November 2013). "A Full Length Film on the Fabricated Cases on Abdul Nasar Maudany and Others". Youtube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  20. ^ Wahab, Hisham Ul (15 August 2016). "Let The Walls Speak: The many meanings of Azaadi". The Companion. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Jacob Thomas reveals why he delayed Abdul Nasser Madani's arrest in 1998". The News Minute. 23 May 2017. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  22. ^ "Kerala parties start bid for Madani release". The Pioneer. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  23. ^ "Here's a classic case of minority appeasement". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  24. ^ "Either release Madani or hang him, says Kerala Local Administration Minister KT Jaleel". The New Indian Express. 15 April 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  25. ^ "Justice for Madani Forum set up". The New Indian Express. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  26. ^ "Justice for Madani Forum demands NIA probe in Bangalore blast case". DNA India. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Pressure grows for Bengaluru blast accused's release". Deccan Herald. 1 November 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  28. ^ "Bangalore police arrests Madani in Kerala". India Today. 17 August 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  29. ^ "PDP's Madani allowed to attend daughter's marriage, police to monitor". Firstpost. 7 March 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  30. ^ "Abdul Nasser Madani again stirs up controversy". The Times of India. 11 March 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  31. ^ "Give immediate medical treatment to Maudany, court tells Karnataka". The Hindu. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  32. ^ a b "Chief Justice of India calls Abdul Nazar Madani a 'dangerous man'". The News Minute. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  33. ^ "NIA court rejects Madani's plea to attend son's wedding, PDP hartal in Kerala Wednesday". OnManorama. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  34. ^ "SC declines Maudany's plea to relax bail condition in 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts". Deccan Chronicle. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  35. ^ Madani finally held, flown to Bangalore. Hindustan Times (16 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  36. ^ An ineffective move Archived 25 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ "SC declines Maudany's plea to relax bail condition in 2008 Bengaluru serial blasts". Deccan Chronicle. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  38. ^ Mangalore Unravelling Bomb Blasts will Trigger off Communal Unrest – Madani
  39. ^ The Pioneer
  40. ^ a b c Madani's wife charged with aiding LeT man - Economic Times
  41. ^ Dacoity case: CB arrests Thadiyantavide Nazeer|work=The Times of India
  42. ^ "Nazeer confesses he was member of terror outfit". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 25 January 2022.
  43. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  44. ^ "HC reserves judgment on charge-sheet". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  45. ^ "After the 2008 bomb blasts, Nasir called his 'le". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 November 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  46. ^ "Archive.ph". Archived from the original on 30 June 2013.
  47. ^ SC bench split on granting bail to blast accused Madani. Hindustan Times (5 May 2011). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  48. ^ Madani admits to role in Bangalore stadium blasts – Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (24 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  49. ^ Madani says he will surrender before court. Indian Express (15 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  50. ^ Madani under jail threat, again. Deccanherald.com. Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  51. ^ "Madani 'confesses' role in Bangalore blasts". The Economic Times. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  52. ^ Court issues another NBW against Madani. Sify.com. Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  53. ^ I will surrender before a court: Madani. Sify.com (15 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  54. ^ Madani pretending to be ill, SC told – Rediff.com India News. Rediff.com (29 April 2011). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  55. ^ "How can wheelchair-bound Madani be a threat, asks". The Times of India. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  56. ^ SC split verdict on Mahdani's bail plea in Bangalore blast case. In.news.yahoo.com (4 May 2011). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  57. ^ a b "Murder attempt case: Madhani questioned by Kerala police". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017.
  58. ^ "No Proof on Plot to Kill Parameswaran, Alavi". The Indian Express. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  59. ^ "Conspiracy to kill RSS ideologue: No interference in probe, says crime branch". The Times of India. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
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