Nadeem not entitled for cancellation of warrant: Mah tells HC

Mumbai, Jan 15 (UNI) Nadeem Saifee of the Nadeem-Shravan music duo, cannot be entitled for cancellation of the warrant issued against him in music baron Gulshan Kumar's murder case, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court today.

A Division Bench comprising Justices Ranjana Desai and Anoop Mohta have, however, adjourned the case to February 12 following Union Government representative - Aditional Solicitor General B A Desai - informing the court that the Centre has not been served the petition of the case.

An affidavit submitted today by Arjun Baburao Bagadi, Senior Inspector of Police, who is the investigating officer in the case, stated that 'since Nadeem has failed to attend before the investigating agency and the court and face the trial, he cannot get the benefit of the judgement delivered by the Session Judge here which acquitted the other accused except the man who had fired at Kumar'.

The request to the United Kingdom government for extraditing Nadeem, who is based in London for the last nine years, for conspiring Kumar's murder, was rejected but that by itself cannot be construed as acquittal, the affidavit further stated. Also, it cannot be said that he has been falsely implicated in the case and is absconding.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Nadeem's father Yunus Saifee alleging that his son is being unnecessarily prevented from entering the country despite there being no evidence against him.

However, police investigation revealed that the conspiracy to kill Kumar was hatched at the behest of Nadeem as relations had gone sour between them over a forthcoming film and music album.

Also, prior to the incident, Nadem left the country and went to London.

UNI