Farooq Iqbal Maqdumi, a Unani doctor who is an accused in the 2006 Malegaon blast case, has gone on hunger strike since April 1, demanding decision on his discharge application and fast-track trial of the case, his lawyer Jaleel Ahmed told on Friday.
Jail authorities confirmed that Mr. Maqdumi has been on hunger strike. “He has been on hunger strike since the past few days. He is on saline. We have informed the MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) court. He wants to be discharged from the case,” Surendra Kumar, Inspector-General, Prisons, told The Hindu .
Mr. Ahmed said that Mr. Maqdumi's condition had become frail. “His father had gone to meet him at the Arthur road jail. But the jail authorities did not allow him saying that Farooq had breached the jail rule and thus no one can be allowed to meet him,” he said.
‘Adamant'
His father tried to convince him that he should allow the law to take its own course and should give up the hunger strike. But Farooq was adamant,” “His grievance is that the special MCOCA court has not yet passed any order on his discharge application. He argued for himself in the matter. His arguments concluded. But in January, bail applications were moved. The court deferred the decision on discharge application till the decision of bail application,” he said.
The court declined to grant bail to the accused on March 15. “After the decision on bail application, he requested the court to pass an order on the discharge application. In case the court does not give decision on his discharge application, he wants the hearing of the 2006 Malegaon blast case to be fast-tracked,” Mr. Ahmed said.
