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`Look, he sent threat to kill, I have pardoned him`: Indian Express
Ahmedabad, Dec 30: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today proved to be the saviour of at least one Muslim family when he pardoned a 30-year-old Mumbai youth who had issued him a death threat by e-mail.
Ahmedabad, Dec 30: Chief Minister Narendra Modi today proved to be the saviour of at least one Muslim family when he pardoned a 30-year-old Mumbai youth who had issued him a death threat by e-mail.
With the computer programmer, Razaq Nazir Kasim, by his side and cameras clicking furiously, Modi announced at his residence in Gandhinagar that he had asked the police to drop all charges against him. Kasim faced five years in jail and a Rs 1-lakh fine.
‘‘After considering Kasim’s background, I concluded he is not a jehadi, and sent me the mail in an emotional outburst. However, this step could have ruined his life. So, considering that the threat was to my life, I decided to pardon him and have asked the authorities to drop all charges against him.’’
Modi said he had taken the decision well before the December 12 elections but made the announcement now for otherwise it would have been seen as a ‘‘decision with political overtones’’ aimed at garnering votes. ‘‘I am pardoning this youth out of my own conviction,’’ he said.
Kasim’s parents were present when the announcement was made. They are from Tamil Nadu but are settled in Mumbai. Kasim is the only earning member of their family. His father, Kasim Mohammed, who worked as a driver in Kuwait till he returned some years ago, said: ‘‘I am grateful to the Chief Minister. He has given my son a new lease of life.’’
Kasim, who was employed at Chrysalis Infotech Ltd in Andheri, Mumbai, had put his threatening message on Modi’s website, www.narendramodi.org, sometime in October. Following the digital trail of the message, the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of the state police traced it the computer Kasim used in his office. ATS chief Vipul Vijoy said a foolproof case had been made out against him.
The office server had a record of the e-mail and it was also located on the computer he uses. He said the computer was seized in front of two witnesses after Chrysalis confirmed that it was indeed used by Kasim.
Kasim was arrested on October 22 and remanded in police custody for 15 days, after which he obtained bail.
Modi is also learnt to have asked Chrysalis to reinstate Kasim. The firm had dismissed him after he was found involved in the case.
Bureau Report
‘‘After considering Kasim’s background, I concluded he is not a jehadi, and sent me the mail in an emotional outburst. However, this step could have ruined his life. So, considering that the threat was to my life, I decided to pardon him and have asked the authorities to drop all charges against him.’’
Modi said he had taken the decision well before the December 12 elections but made the announcement now for otherwise it would have been seen as a ‘‘decision with political overtones’’ aimed at garnering votes. ‘‘I am pardoning this youth out of my own conviction,’’ he said.
Kasim’s parents were present when the announcement was made. They are from Tamil Nadu but are settled in Mumbai. Kasim is the only earning member of their family. His father, Kasim Mohammed, who worked as a driver in Kuwait till he returned some years ago, said: ‘‘I am grateful to the Chief Minister. He has given my son a new lease of life.’’
Kasim, who was employed at Chrysalis Infotech Ltd in Andheri, Mumbai, had put his threatening message on Modi’s website, www.narendramodi.org, sometime in October. Following the digital trail of the message, the anti-terrorist squad (ATS) of the state police traced it the computer Kasim used in his office. ATS chief Vipul Vijoy said a foolproof case had been made out against him.
The office server had a record of the e-mail and it was also located on the computer he uses. He said the computer was seized in front of two witnesses after Chrysalis confirmed that it was indeed used by Kasim.
Kasim was arrested on October 22 and remanded in police custody for 15 days, after which he obtained bail.
Modi is also learnt to have asked Chrysalis to reinstate Kasim. The firm had dismissed him after he was found involved in the case.
Bureau Report