Mumbai lawyer to represent Abdul Samad

The family contacted me and I have assured them I will help in whatever way possible, said Solkar. Solkar had earlier represented the family of Abdus Suban Qureshi,a Mumbai-based diploma holder in electronics accused of involvement in various bomb blasts.

The family insisted Samad is innocent. He has nothing to do with either the Pune blast and the Mumbai arms case he has been charged in, said his mother,Bibi Rehana,in the city with Samads uncle Mohammad Ali Siddibapa and aunt C Halima. The family lives in Magdoom Colony in Bhatkal district of Karnataka

The Mazgaon Metropolitan Magistrate court on Tuesday sent Abdul Samad to police custody till June 1. The alleged Indian Mujahideen operative has also been charged in a 2009 firearms case. Three alleged aides of fugitive gangster Chhota Shakeel have already been arrested; Samad has been booked under Sections 3,5,25 and 35 of the Arms Act.

Siddibapa has also approached the Jamiat-e-Ulema. The family has been contacting our office. I havent met them yet. We have slowly started contacting our lawyers who have been representing the accused in other terror cases. After meeting the family,things will be clear, said Jamiat-e-Ulema general secretary Gulzar Azmi.