Briefing reporters on Wednesday, Mirza, who was on a junior research fellowship with the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), said he too was branded a mastermind of the alleged terror plot and the police questioned his intention of joining DRDO.
“Till date I do not know why I was arrested, but one thing I know is that I am innocent and we have faith in the judiciary. That's the reason I am walking out,” he said hoping that the others arrested along with him on similar charges would be released soon.
Stating that he was beaten up when arrested on August 29, 2012, he, however, said, he was not physically tortured thereafter but subjected to mental harassment in the last six months.
He said he was sad the NIA had left his fate hanging in balance, neither giving him a clean chit nor charging him, which cost him his dream job at DRDO. He expressed confidence that the NIA Special Court would soon discharge him from the case, after which, he hoped he would get back his job at DRDO.
Speaking about DRDO's decision to terminate him from his job as junior research fellow, Mr. Mirza said: “My parents gave me good education and it was my lifelong dream to be scientist. I am really sad that it happened. I am innocent.”
Incidentally, his elder brother, Shoaib, an MCA student, is also an accused in the case.
On February 20, the NIA had filed a charge-sheet in the court against Shoaib and 11 other accused in the case.
Speaking for his brother, Mr. Mirza said: “He is also innocent and he will come out clean.”
Their father, Abdul Rauf Mirza, a mechanic with the Railways in Hubli, said his son and other suspects, who had been released, should get monetary compensation.
“Their whole life has been scarred. They should be given compensation if they come out clean, much like how Australia gave compensation to Dr. Mohammad Haneef who was wrongly accused in the Glasgow bombing in 2007,” he said.
Mirza was working on a two-year junior research fellowship at DRDO from January 9, 2012, as per his appointment order dated December 15, 2011. His contract was to expire on January 9, 2014.
However, DRDO has sent a letter to his house on February 12, 2013, curtly stating that his service has been terminated, without citing any reason.
Justice Somnath R Sindhagi of the NIA Special Court granted him statutory bail as the investigating agency failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated time frame of 180 days. The court granted him bail on two conditions: he should furnish two sureties of Rs 25,000 each and surrender his passport.
On Tuesday evening, two of Mirza's relatives gave surety. His passport was submitted to the court, after which Justice Sindhagi granted him bail. Mirza was released from Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on Tuesday night.
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