In a major joint operation, the Special Cell of the Delhi Police, along with the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), arrested an 18-year-old youth, Hamaz Siddiqui, from Mumbai’s Kurla area. He has been accused of allegedly plotting bomb blasts in Delhi.
Following the arrest, Hamaz’s father, Jalaluddin Siddiqui, addressed the media and strongly defended his son, claiming he is innocent and has been falsely implicated in the case.
Jalaluddin stated that his son had been addicted to the online game PUBG for the past three years. He added that in recent months, Hamaz used to speak on the phone with some unknown individuals for hours, but the family never suspected anything serious.
“He is completely innocent. He has done nothing wrong and is being framed,” Jalaluddin said.
He further mentioned that Hamaz is a bright student and was scheduled to appear for his Class 12 board examinations this year. Speaking emotionally, Jalaluddin said he had taken loans to fund his son’s education.
Describing the family’s financial condition, he said they are extremely poor, his wife is battling cancer, and the family survives in a rented house with great difficulty.
Jalaluddin also said that he currently does not have enough money to travel to Delhi to meet his son and is trying to arrange funds for the same. Questioning the police action, he added that he was attending his nephew’s funeral on the day of the arrest.
He further claimed that during the house search, the police did not recover any suspicious material. “Only two mobile phones were seized—one belonging to me and the other to my elder son,” he said, reiterating that Hamaz is just 18 years old.