Anand Jon's family alleges racial discrimination

Mumbai, Jan 2 (UNI) The family members and friends of US-based NRI designer Anand Jon, who was arrested in March 2007 in America on rape and related charges, today said that he may be a victim of racial discrimination.

The family has hired the services of noted criminal lawyer Majeed Memon to fight the case for Anand in America. Anand, who is in jail in America since March 2007, is allegedly involved in 40 such cases.

Anand Jon's sister Sanjana today met Mr Memon and told him that Anand, being a non-resident Indian, is amongst the minorities in US and has been victimised due to racial discrimination.

Mr Memon, who has taken up several high profile briefs including defending music composer Nadeem in the United Kingdom, said that they will approach the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of External Affairs.

''My first duty will be to approach the US attorneys, who till now have been defending him,'' he said.

They will also approach the Human Rights Commission in India and in US besides other international human rights organizations.

''We are going to talk about legal rights, human rights and Constitutional rights,'' Mr Memon said and aded that Anand is being made a victim and kept in inhuman conditions.

''Anand has been kept in solitary confinement and is chained.

We saw this when we met him in the Los Angeles jail,'' Ms Sanjana claimed.

Mr Memon said that the charges against Anand will not stand before a judicial mind.

''When DNA examination has turned out to be negative, how can such charges stand before the court of law,'' he questioned.

Ms Sanjana said that it all started when Anand was about to receive a lot of money for his projects after the Wall Street Journal evaluated his brand value at 10 million dollar he does not smoke, drink and he is not into drugs as well, she said.

Some people could not digest his astronomical success, Mr Memon said hinting out that some US fashion industry lobby may be involved in defaming him. Racial discrimination can be there, he said.

Memon also pointed out that how can such treatment be meted out to a man who has been made one of the cultural ambassadors.

''He is educated, a double major in graphic and fashion design, and has carved a niche for himself in US. He was a boy in the making and when more fame and money is to come to him, he is arrested,'' Mr Memon pointed out.

UNI AAA SR PDT PM1922