HC declines any relief to Iranian National

Mumbai, Aug 27 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today declined any relief to an Iranian National, seeking asylum in India, saying that he had adopted Hinduism.

Mohammed Ali Raihani, presently under detention and waiting to be deported shortly to Iran, had moved the High Court seeking conditional release to complete procedures with the United Nations Commissioner for Refugees, for seeking asylum in India.

Claiming that he had converted to Hinduism and adopted a name Krishna as conversion was considered a serious crime in Iran, where he faces death penalty, Mohammed had sought temporary release to complete the formalities for seeking asylum.

A division bench comprising Justices R M S Khandeparkar and V K Tahilramani declined to grant any relief to him, as the same court has earlier rejected his petition seeking Indian citizenship.

While dismissing his earlier petitions, the court has allowed him to pursue his case with the Refugee Commissioner. Considering that aspect, the court allowed his counsel Maharukh Aedenwala to complete formalities and submission of documents with the Refugee Commissioner, that too in presence of concerned police officers and witnesses.

The court had rejected his petitions after considering the CID investigations that revealed that Mohammed has been involved in Hawala transactions and was visiting sensitive places of Hindu worships. Though required to report to concerned authorities of his places of adobe, he frequently changed his addresses without informing the authorities, his travel to Pakistan via Iran had also irked the security agencies.

UNI