Mumbai man held in Madrid for terror: Delhi gives clean chit but silence from Spain

Khan is the lone Indian among the 10 detainees — the others are all from Pakistan — who were picked up in an early morning police raid at a mosque in Barcelona on January 19.

While the police picked up 14 persons, four of them including another Indian, Sarosh Ali, were released after a few days. Barcelona’s judge of the Audencia Nacional Ismael Moreno, however, ordered “unconditional imprisonment” of the remaining 10 who were then moved to Madrid for further investigation.

An Indian team comprising CBI and other Home Ministry officials went to Madrid in early February but were not allowed to meet Khan.

Subsequently on February 20, a month after the suspects were picked up, Spain granted consular access to the Indian mission during which Khan, for the first time, spoke to Indian officials.

According to his statement, Khan, a graduate of St. Xaviers College, Mumbai, is an aspiring businessman who came to Spain on September 8, 2007 on a three-month visa, to make inquiries about the olive business and had, in fact, intended to place some orders for importing Spanish olives. However, he did not seem to have met with much success and overstayed his visa with the hope that he could extend his stay, he said.

According to Khan, Mohammed Hafiz Maroof, a man of Pakistan-origin who is now detained, invited him on January 18 to a Quran- reading session the next morning at Barz Tarebin Ziyad Mosque in Barcelona where Maroof apparently gave Quran lessons.

The venue, Khan claimed, was changed later to the Ayub Ansari Mosque. And just as they gathered that morning, the police raided the place and took into custody all the 14 men who had gathered there.

As for his personal background, he claimed to have obtained an export licence in India for a small export unit, Tauheed Overseas, but admitted that business had not taken off.

Khan said he had registered in the well-known e-trading portal, alibaba.com, and gave his account details for authorities to check his claims. The details did match and all posts in his account related to inquiries on olive trading, and there were even quotes from prospective suppliers who had responded to his queries.

Khan has also worked in Kuwait for less than five years at Boodai Aviation, details of which he has disclosed to officials.

While Spain has not officially replied, it has indicated that inquiries were still underway and that some of the other accused could indeed be part of an elaborate network. Incidentally, another Pakistani youth was picked up today in Netherlands based on some information obtained through these inquiries.

Meanwhile, Khan expressed his anxiety to Indian officials at being told by local police to sign several documents in Spanish even though he did not know the language.

While he has been given a lawyer, he claimed that the conversation is proving meaningless without an interpreter. The Indian Embassy is trying to organise some legal help.

The barcelona case

Jan 19: Spanish Police raid Barcelona mosque, arrest 14, including two Indians, Jamal Khan and Sarosh Ali Mohammed.

Jan 23: Police say all part of a terrorist group linked to Al Qaeda, three of them suicide bombers, planning attacks beginning Jan 18. Say they found timer devices and explosive material. Court orders “unconditional imprisonment” of 10 persons — nine Pakistanis and Khan. However, evidence insufficient against Sarosh, he’s let off.

Feb: India sends CBI and Home Ministry team in February first week but team not allowed access to Khan

Feb 4: Khan’s family writes to PM and Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs.

Feb 20: Spain gives consular access and Khan meets two Indian embassy officials.

Indian agencies conclude inquiries and convey that there is “nothing adverse” against Khan. Wait for word from Spain