Composer Nadeem pleads innocent

Vivek Fernandes

"I have already proved my innocence. I'm not guilty.

"But I am very unhappy with the proceedings being carried out in India," says composer Nadeem Saifi (of Nadeem-Shravan fame) in an exclusive telephonic interview from London with rediff.com.

"The public prosecutor, Ujjwal Nigam, is misleading the court because he wants to save himself from perjury."

"People like him and Inspector Arjun Bagadi realise now that they can't get the real culprits to book, so they're trying to save their skins. But the media won't even print their names."

"Lord Justice Christopher Rose (Deputy Chief Justice of England) and Justice Newman have, in their judgement, stated that there was a preconceived desire when no evidence existed to prove my guilt. They find the use of improper pressure on witnesses to make good on the allegations."

Majeed Memon, Senior Advocate and Nadeem's counsel, says, "The Gulshan Kumar trial has attracted everybody's attention because Gulshan Kumar himself was a celebrity."

"The unsuccessful extradition attempt of Nadeem by the Government Of India and the hard-worded stricture passed by the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom have all made the trial a high-profile exercise."

"In the findings given by the UK court which were confirmed by the House Of Lords, Nadeem Saifi was not only declared innocent, he was also a victim of conspiracy falsely involved in a serious charge of conspiring to kill Gulshan Kumar."

He goes on to add, "Presently, a trial judge (a sessions judge) is probing into the motive leading to the brutal assassination of Gulshan Kumar on August 12, 1997, outside the Shiva temple at Jeet Nagar, Andheri, in northwest Bombay."

"The approver, Mohammed Ali alias Chacha, has been cited as the star witness to unfold the alleged conspiracy and motivation for the murder. He has consistently alleged, at various forums, that he has no knowledge about the conspiracy to kill Gulshan Kumar.

"He has been pressurised, threatened, assaulted and induced by the police officers to own up to a fabricated story involving Nadeem. This witness is due to be cross-examined by the defense in the coming days in the ongoing trial."

Memon asserts that the truth in relation to his evidence will emerge sooner or later.

Nadeem also said that he would consider returning to India only if he was invited back honourably. "Honour is everything. People have sacrificed their lives for the sake of their honour. If people accept their blame, I will consider returning. I was framed and God's mercy has proved my innocence."

"The people know, they always have known that I would never be able to commit such crimes. The people's verdict has proved my innocence. Their response to my music for Dhadkan, Ek Rishtaa, Hum Ho Gaye Aapke have shown that they believe in me."

"The film industry has supported me constantly. They are flocking to London. At any given week, I have filmmakers approaching me with projects. I have a whole load of projects on hand including Haan... Maine Pyaar Kiya and Yeh Dil Aashiqana. Filmmakers still have faith in me."

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Pritish Nandy's encounter with Nadeem Saifi