The Bombay High Court today paved the way for the release of a 65-year-old man who has been imprisoned for the past fifteen years on terrorism charges. A division bench comprising Justice Sarang Vijaykumar Kotwal and Justice Ranjit Sinha Raja Bhonsle granted the accused, Kafeel Ahmed, permission to present a surety from outside Maharashtra; the Court had previously ordered him to produce a local resident as a surety. Kafeel Ahmed had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court through the Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra (Arshad Madani) Legal Aid Committee. During today’s hearing, Advocate Mateen Shaikh informed the Court that despite being granted bail nearly a year ago, the accused remains compelled to endure the hardships of imprisonment because he hails from Bihar and has no one in Maharashtra to stand as his surety. Advocate Mateen Shaikh further informed the court that the accused is 65 years old and is already suffering from various ailments while in prison; therefore, the conditions of his bail should be modified. Initially, the court expressed reluctance, noting that the accused faced serious charges and thus the bail conditions could not be altered; however, after hearing Advocate Mateen Shaikh’s arguments, the court granted relief to the accused. This decision was made despite strong opposition from the public prosecutor regarding the modification of bail conditions. It is worth noting that two weeks ago, the son of the accused, Kafeel Ahmed, met with Maulana Haleemullah Qasmi, President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra, to request his elderly father’s release from prison; subsequently, a petition was filed in the Bombay High Court, which was heard today. Kafeel Ahmed is accused of involvement—alongside other co-accused—in the 13/7 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, which involved explosions at three different locations in the city. Charges were framed against Kafeel Ahmed and the other eleven accused under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)—including Sections 302, 307, 326, 325, 324, 379, 109, and 120-B—as well as under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Explosive Substances Act, and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The Jamiat Ulama-e-Maharashtra Legal Aid Committee is providing legal assistance to the accused facing charges in this case: Naqi Ahmed Wasi Ahmed, Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Shaikh, Haroon Abdul Rashid Naik, Kafeel Ahmed Mohammad Ayub Ansari, Asadullah Akhtar Javed Akhtar (alias ‘Haddi’), Syed Ismail Afaq Alim Lanka, Saddam Hussain Feroz Khan, and Zain-ul-Abideen Abdul Razzaq. Advocates Abdul Wahab Khan, Sharif Shaikh, Hasnain Qazi, and others are appearing in the Sessions Court to represent the accused.

In Mumbai, the Rashtriya Muslim Manch broke the lock placed by the MIM on Khilafat House. Chanting slogans of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” female students and activists from the Rashtriya Muslim Manch broke the lock and entered the premises. Previously, former MLA Waris Pathan had locked Khilafat House; a verbal altercation had also occurred at the time between Pathan and Sarfaraz Arzu, the trustee and acting president of Khilafat House. Today, by breaking the lock, the Rashtriya Muslim Manch declared Pathan’s action illegal, questioning his authority to lock the premises.

Waris Pathan stated that since Khilafat House is registered with the Waqf Board and is Waqf property, he had locked it in protest to halt construction work. Meanwhile, Sarfaraz Arzu had challenged the claim that it was Waqf property, demanding that the Waqf deed be produced. Pathan had locked the Byculla-based Khilafat House following a notice from the Waqf Board, but today, the Rashtriya Muslim Manch broke that lock and entered the building. Sarfaraz Arzu announced plans to construct a high-rise building at the site, which would house a hospital and a college. Although the property is embroiled in a dispute regarding its status as Waqf property, the Khilafat House administration has refused to acknowledge it as such, even though the Waqf Board has issued a notice and demanded relevant records. Waris Pathan had locked the Khilafat House to halt construction work there; it has been opened today.

Mumbai, Sep 29: In a bid to signal a unified front against the Election Commission of India (ECI), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday addressed a joint press conference to unveil the blueprint for a public protest march scheduled for October 4.

The demonstration is directed against the ECI, led by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, accusing the body of functioning as an “extension of the ruling party” at the Centre and deceiving voters through the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

Outlining the logistics and roadmap for the October 4 rally, Raj Thackeray announced that the protest is structured as a non-partisan movement representing the collective voice of citizens.

Protesters will assemble at 10:00 a.m. at the Richardson & Cruddas premises in Byculla. The march will move from Byculla toward Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.. The march will terminate near the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters where a stage will be set up to convert the rally into a public meeting.

“We have been consistently raising concerns over EVM manipulation and electoral malpractices for years. Back in 2017–18, I met several political leaders regarding these issues. This march stands against the humiliation of voters and the subversion of our electoral integrity. Whatever we have to say, we will deliver directly from the stage on October 4,” Raj Thackeray stated.

Emphasising that the demonstration transcends individual party politics, the Thackeray cousin brothers laid down strict guidelines for participants.

They said neither the MNS nor Shiv Sena (UBT) will carry party flags or banners. All marchers will carry exclusively the Indian National Flag to underscore the fight for democracy and the Constitution.

Rather than sending formal letters, the leadership will personally place phone calls to all Opposition parties, inviting them to join the movement, said Raj Thackeray adding that leaders from ruling parties who oppose the poll panel’s functioning are also welcome on stage.

Responding to allegations from the BJP which claimed that the Opposition is manufacturing “fabricated stories” regarding CEC Gyanesh Kumar to blame the poll panel for political failures — Raj Thackeray dismissed the ruling party’s defence with a sharp Marathi idiom. “If our protest is directed strictly at the Election Commission, why is the BJP feeling the heat? As the Marathi saying goes, ‘Khai tyala khavkhave (guilty conscience needs no accuser)’,” he said.

Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray said that there is no competition on who organises the protest march against the CEC and the malfunctioning of the poll panel. They were replying to a question on a nationwide protest organised by the Congress party on the issue.

Raj Thackeray added that if residents of a housing society hold such a protest, it is welcome.

The joint call for action follows a high-level meeting with Maharashtra Chief Electoral Officer S Chockalingam regarding irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

Over the weekend, Raj Thackeray took to social media platform X to attack the poll panel, alleging that under CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the ECI has acted like a “branch office” of the ruling establishment to perpetrate massive voter fraud.

The upcoming October 4 demonstration marks a significant reunion of the Thackeray brothers on a shared political stage, setting the stage for a major political confrontation in Mumbai ahead of key electoral battles.

Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray announced his full support for the agitation by Cockroach Janata Party on October 2 in Mumbai against CEC Gyanesh Kumar.