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Syed Gul Mohammed Shah, one of the two Indians detained in the United States in connection with credit card fraud, is likely to be deported soon, his counsel Lawrence K Feitell has said.
In a letter to Hyderabad City Police Commissioner M V Krishna Rao, the attorney said that Shah, alias Ayub Ali Khan, had nearly completed his sentence of one year. "The sentence is about to be completed and Shah will soon be deported back to India," Feitell said.
Shah's mother Gul Begum and sister Fatima Begum had handed over the letter to the commissioner.
After going through it, the commissioner reportedly told them not to worry. "Don't be afraid of the police here. No injustice will be done to your son. But the counsel has not said what I have to do," the commissioner told them.
Feitell recalled that he had served Shah as his court-appointed attorney in the US District Court in New York since November 8, 2001.
Initially, Shah was suspected to be connected with the September 11 attacks. He was held for 57 days without access to anyone. "During this period of time, he was investigated thoroughly and he voluntarily and successfully underwent lie detector test. He was kept in virtual solitary confinement and received very harsh treatment as a possible suspect. It was established that Shah was not connected in any way with the bombing of the WTC [World Trade Centre] and his arrest appeared to be the result of racial profiling," Feitell pointed out. In the interim, it was discovered that Shah had sold some of his credit cards to people who had made improper purchases. Shah entered a guilty plea to the charge and was sentenced to one year and one day in jail. "Shah's close detention for nearly one year was an agonising experience at the hands of jail personnel who victimised all dark-skinned Muslim arrestees," the attorney said and pointed out that Shah had lost nearly 30 pounds and was suffering from chest pains. "Shah is a gentle, soft-spoken, intelligent and sensitive person. I sincerely hope and trust that this letter on behalf of my client will show this matter in its true light. I have every confidence that Shah is innocent of terrorism charge and that he deserves to be treated fairly," Feitell wrote to the commissioner. ALSO READ Azmath's Pakistani wife approaches court against deportation Azmath's wife's plea for visa extension adjourned Families clueless about charges against Hyderabadi duo in FBI custody Families shocked at the arrest of Indian suspects Indian duo no longer suspect in September 11 attacks Indian suspect in FBI custody blessed with a son FBI agents question Indian suspects in Hyderabad US attacks: 2 men claiming to be Indians held Indian suspects clean back home: Police Cases in AP against Indians in FBI custody FBI may deport Indian suspects Kin of Indian suspects quizzed by FBI Two Indians arrested after 9/11 attack charged with fraud Indian charges US authorities with racial profiling Back to top Tell us what you think of this report
"During this period of time, he was investigated thoroughly and he voluntarily and successfully underwent lie detector test. He was kept in virtual solitary confinement and received very harsh treatment as a possible suspect. It was established that Shah was not connected in any way with the bombing of the WTC [World Trade Centre] and his arrest appeared to be the result of racial profiling," Feitell pointed out.
In the interim, it was discovered that Shah had sold some of his credit cards to people who had made improper purchases. Shah entered a guilty plea to the charge and was sentenced to one year and one day in jail.
"Shah's close detention for nearly one year was an agonising experience at the hands of jail personnel who victimised all dark-skinned Muslim arrestees," the attorney said and pointed out that Shah had lost nearly 30 pounds and was suffering from chest pains.
"Shah is a gentle, soft-spoken, intelligent and sensitive person. I sincerely hope and trust that this letter on behalf of my client will show this matter in its true light. I have every confidence that Shah is innocent of terrorism charge and that he deserves to be treated fairly," Feitell wrote to the commissioner.
ALSO READ Azmath's Pakistani wife approaches court against deportation Azmath's wife's plea for visa extension adjourned Families clueless about charges against Hyderabadi duo in FBI custody Families shocked at the arrest of Indian suspects Indian duo no longer suspect in September 11 attacks Indian suspect in FBI custody blessed with a son FBI agents question Indian suspects in Hyderabad US attacks: 2 men claiming to be Indians held Indian suspects clean back home: Police Cases in AP against Indians in FBI custody FBI may deport Indian suspects Kin of Indian suspects quizzed by FBI Two Indians arrested after 9/11 attack charged with fraud Indian charges US authorities with racial profiling
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