Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB/DC)
Udupi, Sep 4: "All the allegations made by Mubarak against me are false,” said Ansar Ahmed, president of Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (Karave) here on Tuesday September 4.
Addressing a press meet, Ansar said, "Mubarak made a false claim that I have demanded Rs 1.5 lacs to release Shankar Poojary who is arrested in Kuwait. But these are false allegations. Truth is Mubarak is not co-operating in our efforts to bring back Shankar. Only once he had come to police station with Jyothi, wife of Shankar,"
"Let him show the evidence if at all I have demanded money. Ravindranath Shanbhog, human rights president informed us that central government cannot help in this case. He has asked us to get a lawyer in Kuwait to release Shankar. We have hopes of releasing Shankar in a month," he added.
He further said, "We do not need money. We need people to communicate with Kuwait authorities. When Tasleema had carried the same tablets, she was not arrested though it is banned in Kuwait. Why Shankar was arrested? Mubarak promised help in the media. He accepted that it was his mistake and Shankar was innocent. But now he is not co-operating,"
Jyothi, wife of Shankar said, "My husband reached Kuwait on June 13. Since then there is no information about him. Gopal, who is our neighbour had demanded Rs 25,000 promising that Shivanand Tallur, who is associated with NRI committee in Bengaluru, would help to release Shankar. Mubarak had promised to provide Rs 10,000 every month but till now nothing has been given,"
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Ansar said that a meeting was held along with Udupi DC and efforts are being made to help Shankar. "We have also sought help from Billawa associations in Kuwait and we are hopeful of getting help," he added.
Earlier, Mubarak, son-in-law of Tasleema alleged that Rakshana Vedike president Ansar Ahmed assured that he will help to release Shankar and demanded Rs 1.5 lacs. He also said that he has a phone conversation recording of the same.
It may be recalled that Shankar Poojary, who was employed in Kuwait and was returning to work after visiting home, was caught by the authorities at the airport in Kuwait with a parcel of tablets containing banned medicines three months back. The parcel was supposed to be delivered to Tasleema in Kuwait. It was given by Mubarak.