PDP leader Madani's arrest not to affect criminal petition in court

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Abdul Nasser Madani, arrested in connection with the Bangalore serial blasts, was "falsely implicated" in the case without any material, his counsel told the Karnataka high court today.

When Madani's petition for quashing the charge sheet against him in the case came up, senior counsel Ravi B Naik contended that he had been implicated in the case on the basis of a statement of a co-accused T Nazeer, a LeT suspect.

"And secondly, there is no proper sanction to prosecute under section 45 of the Unlawful Activities Act," Naik argued.

Special public prosecutor HS Chandramouli sought some more time to file his objections stating he had not got all the material since the investigating officer and other officials of Karnataka police were stationed in Kerala for the past eight days to arrest Madani.

Single bench judge Subhash B Adi then adjourned hearing of the petition to tomorrow afternoon.

"Madani's arrest in Kollam in Kerala today will have not have any affect on the criminal petition filed by him for quashing of charge sheet and further proceedings against him in the 2008 Bangalore blasts case," Madani's counsel P Usman told PTI.

"However, the other procedure which has to be followed after arrest has to complied with. He definitely will have to be produced before the magistrate court or even at his (magistrate's) residence in Bangalore within 24 hours," he said.