MUMBAI, MAY 9:The Indian authorities have been assured by their Spanish counterparts that investigations into the suspected terror plot linked to Mumbai resident Roshan Jamal Khan were being expedited even as his family said on Friday that it was worried as he had not called them for eight days.

Indian official sources, however, said embassy officials in Spain had met Khan only two days ago and he, although anxious, was in good health. They also denied reports that he had been charged.

They said the Indian embassy was in touch with the Spanish Interior Ministry and had been assured that they did not want to prolong Khan’s detention. An interim report about the case made some vague references to some material like wires that could be used to make explosives being found but it was not yet confirmed if Khan had any expertise in using them, they said.

Investigators were checking all links and a formal chargesheet was awaited, they added. Khan was among the 14 Muslim men picked up by Spanish authorities from a mosque in Barcelona on January 19 in connection with an alleged plot to carry out terror attacks in that city. Four of them, including another Indian, were released later. Khan, who is being held along with nine Pakistanis, was in Spain to explore the possibility of starting an olives business, his family has said.

Recently, Khan’s family had urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the External Affairs Ministry and the Spanish Consulate-General to intervene saying he was innocent. Immigrant groups had staged protests in Spain seeking his freedom.

Although Khan is allowed to call his family in Jogeshwari West eight times a week for four minutes each, his brother Mehboob said he had not called for the last eight days. “We are a little worried now... we don’t know what has happened, as such a long gap is unusual,” Mehboob said. “The last time he spoke to his family, his call came in much earlier than usual. When asked about this, he told us that he was being held in such a way that he has completely lost track of time. He is in the dark about the progress of his case, and we keep informing him of any recent developments.”

Speaking to The Indian Express about a fortnight ago, Khan had said he was in solitary confinement and had been made to sign some papers in Spanish and had not been provided an interpreter despite asking for one. “This is a violation of human rights. Am I being victimised because I was reading the Quran?” he had asked.

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