Israeli diplomat attack: Kazmi accuses "oil lobby"

Journalist Syed Mohammad Kazmi Wednesday sought to dissociate from his alleged role in the Israeli diplomat attack case by claiming in a Delhi court "the international petroleum lobby and some rogue elements in the government had carried out the attack to spoil the relations between India and Iran."

Kazmi, who is the lone accused in the case, said he has been implicated in it and alleged the Special Cell of Delhi Police which has been investigating the case, was also acting against the country's interests.

"India and Iran have had good relations for years. India used to take oil from Iran at cheaper rates. The petroleum lobby does not want this. Due to this, this lobby, along with certain rogue elements in the government here and also the Special Cell of Delhi Police, are acting against India's interests," he told Additional Sessions Judge Atul Kumar Garg.

In his arguments on framing of charge, Kazmi's counsel Mehmood Pracha said "this I am saying with full sense of responsibility...the Special Cell, the international crime syndicate and the petroleum syndicate is acting against the interest of India.

"The February 13, 2012 bomb attack on the Israeli diplomat's car was carried out by them and not me," he said.

Showing various news reports and photographs published in newspapers after the incident, Pracha said "a foreigner with a bag can be seen at the scene of crime within the cordoned-off area. Who is he and how is he allowed there? According to me, he is somebody from Israel's intelligence agency Mossad. After he surfaces, police find magnetic device etc but all that the police would say is that Kazmi conspired with Iranians."       

He added the blast had actually taken place in another aerosol cylinder inside the car.

Kazmi is the lone accused in the attack on Israeli diplomat Tal Yehoshua's car in which she and three others sustained injuries. Kazmi has been charge sheeted under various provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Indian Penal Code including the attempt to murder.

Besides him, Iranian nationals Houshang Afshar Irani, Masod Sedaghatzadeh, Syed Ali Mehdi Sadr and Mohammed Reza Abolghasemi as suspects in the case.

Pracha also refuted the argument of the prosecution that Kazmi was in touch with Houshang through mobile phone and in indirect touch with Masod.

"The call detail records would show that Houshang had phoned eight other Indian nationals besides him but I have been made an accused," he said.

He also said "Kazmi is a reputed journalist and may have a certain ideology but that does not mean he will participate in such attacks."

He also added "since the cognizance of the charge sheet was taken by the magisterial court which is not empowered to do so under UAPA, the cognizance is bad in law and he deserves to be discharged."

Earlier during the day, the ASJ pulled up the prosecution for relying on documents which were not filed on the court's record.

Additional Public Prosecutor Rajiv Mohan told the court that Masod was the operational head of the module which had carried out or planned similar attacks in Bangkok, Malaysia and Georgia.

Masod, later arrested in Malaysia, was in touch with Houshang who had come to India on a tourist visa and carried out the attack with the help of Kazmi, Mohan argued.

Refusing any further opportunity to the prosecution to make oral arguments, the court directed Mohan and Pracha to file their written submissions by July 9.