Computer hard drives proving Anand Jon's innocence stolen

Washington, July 14 : Computer hard drives proving Indian fashion designer Anand Jon's innocence have been stolen from his family's home in Westwood, an upscale suburb of Los Angeles, California (United States).

Jon, who has been in LA County jail for 12 months due to legal gridlock as New York has refused to grant him a bail hearing, is facing rape charges and sexual battery in two separate cases.

According to supportanandjon.org (SAJ), the defence drives contained critical legal and strategic documents assembled since Jon's arrest, which aid in proving his innocence.

The defence alleges that the designer's house was burglarised during a two-hour time frame in which the family was at meetings with his lawyers, reports the 'Westside Today'.

According to police documents, the high-security building showed no signs of forced entry and the only items stolen were three computer laptops and hard drives marked 'attorney-client privilege.'

Two other computers and 2,000 dollars in cash were left undisturbed.

The defence has not released any public statements on the incident, but industry professionals and others close to Anand Jon have claimed that jealous business associates have spread lies and coerced witnesses to frame the quickly rising fashion designer.

One witness has claimed that she was offered money to make false allegations against Jon and received threatening phone calls when she refused.

"Anand is innocent. I challenge the girls (who accused him of rape/molestation) to confront me. I was there (when the alleged incidents happened) and nothing happened," she said.

While both the defence and prosecution sort through these matters, Jon continues to wait in jail, where he has been since March 2007.

ANI