2009 arms case accused says he doesn't know Samad

Sulieman Patel, an accused out on bail in the 2009 illegal arms seizure case, claims he does not know Abdul Samad, who was recently granted bail by a court which observed there was no evidence against him in the case.

Sulieman Patel, an accused out on bail in the 2009 illegal arms seizure case, claims he does not know Abdul Samad, who was recently granted bail by a court which observed there was no evidence against him in the case.

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Samad, alleged to be involved in the Pune Germany Bakery blast case, was arrested on May 25 by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) in connection with the arms seizure case.

According to ATS, Samad had supplied arms to three persons - Haji Imran, Abdul Sheikh and Sulieman Patel, who were arrested in August last year.

However, Sulieman, who is currently out on bail, claims he does not know Samad.

"I have been reading about him (Samad) everywhere these days. Newspapers have been saying he is the prime accused in the arms case and also a suspect in a blast case," Sulieman said today.

"I only know Imran and Sheikh who were arrested along with me. I do not know any Samad," he said.

"I have been already branded as an accomplice of some one like Chotta Shakeel. And now a blast case suspect has been arrested in the same case as mine. I feel worried as to what the police would do next," Sulieman said.

When asked whether he was questioned by ATS about Samad, Sulieman replied in the negative.

"The ATS is yet to file its chargesheet in the arms seizure case," he said.

Samad was released on bail on June 15 by a sessions court which observed that there was no evidence against him and that his custody was not required further.