Abdul Nazer Mahdani

Abdul Nasir Mahdani also known as Abdul Nasser Maudani or Madani Born in (Sasthamkotta, Kerala) is a Muslim radical activist and leader of fundamentalist Peoples Democratic Party (India)[1] from Kerala, India.

Abdul Nasir Mahdani
Personal details
BornSasthamkotta, Kerala
NationalityIndian
Political partyPDP
Spouse(s)Soofiya Madani
ResidenceKerala, India

In 1992, Mahdani became the target of an assassination attempt in which he lost his right leg[2] and is fitted with a prosthetic limb.[3][4][5]

Mahdani was accused of involving in 1998 Coimbatore bombings, but was acquitted of all charges after spending nine and half years in Coimbatore Central Prison.[3][6] Later involvement in 2008 Bangalore serial blast.[7] He is under judicial custody in relation with the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts. But his involvement is unproven as of yet as trials are still being held. Allegations against Mahdani are yet to be proved.

At a young age, Mahdani(Maudany) began delivering sermons at a local mosque in the Kollam district. His oratorical skills were well received, and he soon built up a following.[8] He subsequently formed the Islamic Seva Sangh (ISS) and later launched the PDP.[8]Communist Party of India (Marxist) forged alliance[9] with PDP at various elections in Kerala state. The PDP also won a few seats in the council elections.[10]

Political Activism

Chengara Solidarity March

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"

"I am a committed Muslim and every Muslim has the obligation to support the poor, Adivasis and Dalits...It is my duty to stand by you to fight for your rights..If needed, to be a martyr dying for this cause.."[11]

"Freedom has not been achieved so far; to those cannot give proper education to their children, to Dalits and enslaved people of this country, to those innocent people- who were massacred at Bhiwandi, Assam, Gujarat, Jamshedpur, Guwahati, Varanasi, Ayodhya- to the minority communities, to the dispossessed and deprived, to those landless and poor, to those who have no land to bury their dead …When the 50th anniversary of Indian independence day of "Masters" is being celebrated, I have declared that the Subalterns of this country have not yet attained independence..."[12]

Free Madani Campaign

Justice for Madani Forum

With the aim of providing legal and financial aid to PDP chairman Abdul Nasser Madani, who has been arrested in connection with the Bangalore blast case, to wage legal and political battle, Justice For Madani Forum was constituted under the aegis of various Muslim organisations on 25 August 2010.[13] The Justice for Madani Forum demanded that the Bangalore blast case, in which PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madani, has been listed as an accused, should be probed by any agency outside the state of Karnataka, preferably by the National Investigating Agency (NIA).[14]

The documentary by K.P Sasi (son of K Damodaran) expands on how Madani was framed.

Assembly resolution

The Kerala assembly on 16 March 2006, passed a unanimous resolution seeking the release of Abdul Nasser Mahdani, on humanitarian grounds.[6]

Controversies
Islamic Seva Sangh

Mahdani had set up the Islamic Seva Sangh in 1989. It was banned in 1992 for alleged subversive act[15][16] SIMI, Jamath Islami and Shiv Sena following the Babri Masjid demolition.[8]

Alleged connections with Thadiyantavide Nazeer

Investigators allege that suspected south India commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba Thadiyantavide Nazeer came into militancy through ISS founded by Madani.[17][18] Nazeer is suspected to have established links with LeT[18][19] and was picked up by Bangladeshi authorities and handed over to BSF on the Meghalaya border.[18] In connection with the Bangalore blast case, Police have presented phone records to the court proving that Madani contacted the main accused Nazeer several times before and after the blast. Phone calls were made from a number registered in Madani's wife Soofiya's name.[20][21] According to the police, after orchestrating the blasts Nasir went in hiding at Madani's office at Anvarssery.[22] However Madani's advocate B V Acharya has contended that it is "only a make believe theory to implicate Madani".[23]

Allegation on Coimbatore blast case
After his release from coimbatore jail

He was alleged in the Coimbatore serial bomb blasts case held on 14 February 1998, that killed 58 people. Mahdani was imprisoned for nine years as an under trial. However, Mahdani was acquitted of all charges. Mahdani charged that there is a hidden political agenda in connecting him with the Coimbatore blast case.[24]

High Court and Supreme court observations in Bangalore blast case

Mahdani is lodged in Karnataka jail and is in judicial custody for his involvement in the 2008 Bangalore serial blasts and similar incidents in Ahmedabad, Surat and Jaipur. Two persons were killed and 20 injured when the blasts rocked the cyber city at nine locations in 2008.[25] As per former Karnataka state Home Minister late V S Acharya, Mahdani also allegedly admitted role in the 2010 Bangalore stadium bombing on 17 April 2010,[26] which he had denied earlier.[27][28] 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.[29] After a court issued a fresh non-bailable warrant,[30] he proffered to surrender so as to avoid 'unpleasant situations' when he was to be arrested.[31] On 11 February 2011, the Karnataka High Court had rejected Mahdani's plea. The High Court had said, "There is seldom ever that direct evidence is there in such cases. Conspiracy by very nature is hatched in complete secrecy otherwise the whole purpose will be frustrated.[32] The testimonies of witnesses, G Prabhakar, KB Rafeeq and KK Yoganand were quoted in the judgement dismissing the bail plea. 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.?[33] Finally 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.[34] In March 2013 Mahdani was granted a 5-day interim bail to attend his daughter's (shemeera maudani) wedding and to visit his ailing father.[35] 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.[36] On 24 July 2017, his bail application for attending his son's marriage on 9 August was rejected by NIA court. In response to this,his party PDP called for state wide harthal in Kerala on 26 July 2017.[37]

After his arrest in Bangalore blast case
Findings of Tehelka in Bangalore blast case

The testimony of Rafeeq, who had worked in the Lakkeri estate as a labour and was arrested by SIT in 2008 reads, "I have seen strangers visit the estate. Among them was a man wearing a cap. I had seen him only on television. I realised that the man was Mahdani." Some of the Bharatiya Janata Party and RSS workers said they had not seen Mahdani in the area.

Murder attempt case

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 KK Alavi, a convert into Christianity from Islam.[38] The case relates to Madhani offering money to murder RSS think-tank Bharatiya Vichara Kendram Director P Parameshwaran and Father Alavi. Madhani dismissed the charges and said he is not involved in this. Madhani alleged political conspiracy against him.[38] 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.[39] And no evidence could be obtained to substantiate this allegation against Mahdani.[40]

References
  1. Jul 26, TNN | Updated:; 2013; Ist, 03:40. "Abdul Nasser Madani involved in more blast cases: Karnataka Police | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 February 2020.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. Staff (11 September 2006). "HC directs RSS leader to surrender in Madani attack case". One India. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  3. "Maudhany freed, Basha found guilty in Coimbatore blasts case". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 August 2007.
  4. Madani slams CBI, Karnataka cops. deccanchronicle.com. 13 June 2010
  5. HC directs RSS leader to surrender in Madani attack case. News.oneindia.in (11 September 2006). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  6. "Madani's custody in Bangalore takes political colour". Indian Express. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  7. Madani pretending to be ill, SC told - Rediff.com India News
  8. Special: Are Kerala's Muslims enamoured with Abdul Nasser Madani?. Rediff.com. Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  9. rediff.com: Kerala: PDP leader Madani speaks on terror charges, tie-up with Left
  10. The Hindu : Kerala / Kollam News : Four PDP members expelled from party
  11. Free Maudany Campaign (30 November 2013). "A Full Length Film on the Fabricated Cases on Abdul Nasar Maudany and Others". Youtube. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  12. Wahab, Hisham Ul (15 August 2016). "Let The Walls Speak: The many meanings of Azaadi". The Companion. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  13. "Justice for Madani Forum set up". The New Indian Express. 26 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  14. "Justice for Madani Forum demands NIA probe in Bangalore blast case". DNA India. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  15. Madani finally held, flown to Bangalore. Hindustan Times (16 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  16. An ineffective move Archived 25 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  17. The Pioneer
  18. Madani’s wife charged with aiding LeT man - Economic Times
  19. Dacoity case: CB arrests Thadiyantavide Nazeer|work=The Times of India
  20. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  21. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  22. "After the 2008 bomb blasts, Nasir called his 'le". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  23. http://news.outlookindia.com/items.aspx?artid=711521%5B%5D
  24. Mangalore Unravelling Bomb Blasts will Trigger off Communal Unrest - Madani
  25. SC bench split on granting bail to blast accused Madani. Hindustan Times (5 May 2011). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  26. Madani admits to role in Bangalore stadium blasts – Times Of India. Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com (24 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  27. Madani says he will surrender before court. Indian Express (15 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  28. Madani under jail threat, again. Deccanherald.com. Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  29. ET Bureau (25 August 2010). "Madani 'confesses' role in Bangalore blasts". The Economic Times. Retrieved 25 August 2010.
  30. Court issues another NBW against Madani. Sify.com. Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  31. I will surrender before a court: Madani. Sify.com (15 August 2010). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  32. Madani pretending to be ill, SC told – Rediff.com India News. Rediff.com (29 April 2011). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  33. Apr 22, Agencies | Updated:; 2011; Ist, 03:37. "How can wheelchair-bound Madani be a threat, asks | Bengaluru News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 17 February 2020.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  34. SC split verdict on Mahdani's bail plea in Bangalore blast case. In.news.yahoo.com (4 May 2011). Retrieved on 24 March 2012.
  35. "PDP's Madani allowed to attend daughter's marriage, police to monitor". Firstpost. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  36. "Give immediate medical treatment to Maudany, court tells Karnataka". The Hindu. 22 October 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  37. "NIA court rejects Madani's plea to attend son's wedding, PDP hartal in Kerala Wednesday". OnManorama. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  38. "Murder attempt case: Madhani questioned by Kerala police". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 6 December 2017.
  39. New Indian Express (29 September 2015). "No Proof on Plot to Kill Parameswaran, Alavi". The Indian Express. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  40. TOI (14 February 2017). "Conspiracy to kill RSS ideologue: No interference in probe, says crime branch". The Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
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