Kulbhushan Jadhav case: Mumbai celebrates ICJ stay, wants him to return home soon

Kulbhushan Jadhav’s childhood friends in the city had started a campaign to put forward his case

Ecstatic cries of Vande Mataram echoed in Lower Parel in Mumbai, as the International Court of Justice stayed the execution of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court for alleged espionage.

Celebrations outside Jadhav’s house in Powai, Mumbai. (Prashant Waydande)

Friends of Jadhav, who grew up in Parel and whose family stays in Powai, also burst firecrackers. Residents of Mumbai held pujas to pray for a favourable verdict in the morning

Tulsidas Pawar, Jadhav’s friend, said,”We knew the verdict would be in our favour. We are happy the government didn’t let us down. I am grateful to our countrymen and all those who supported our fight against the execution. We are with the Jadhav family and will not rest until we get him back home.”

Jadhav’s childhood friends in the city had started a campaign to put forward his case. They are meeting prominent politicians in the state and country to keep the pressure on the government. Jadhav grew up in Parel and the family currently stays in Powai in the city.

Pakistan claims Jadhav, 46, was arrested in March last year in the restive Balochistan province.

In April, a military court sentenced him to death for alleged involvement in spying and subversive activities.

India has contended he was kidnapped from the Iranian port of Chabahar and his secret trial was a “farce”.

His childhood friends in the city had started a campaign to put forward his case. They would be meeting prominent politicians in the state and country to keep the pressure on the government.

Jadhav grew up in Parel and the family currently stays in Powai.