14 days after getting bail, Sammad still in jail

Abdul Sammad, a suspect in the Pune blast case and an arms case, continues to languish in jail in spite of being granted bail two weeks ago.

Sammad, a resident of Bhatkal in Karnataka, was detained in Mangalore and then taken to Mumbai by the Anti-Terrorist Squad for further questioning. In a blow to the ATS, Sammad was granted bail by the Mumbai sessions court.

His anxious family members told rediff.com that Sammad's release has been delayed due to the lack of a guarantor.

"We thought he will be released last week but that didn't happen. Two guarantors backed out at the last minute thus delaying the process further," said one of Sammad's relatives.

Sammad was granted bail on the condition that he will first have to furnish a bail bond and provide two guarantors. The bail condition adds that one of the guarantors has to hail from Mumbai.

While Sammad's family has had no problems in finding a guarantor in Bhatkal, they have been unable to find one in Mumbai. The charges leveled against Sammad are serious in nature and hence people were weary of coming forward as guarantors. They have no problem in standing surety for the arms case, but they don't want to get involved with the Pune blast case.

A member of Sammad's family said they have sent across a list of fresh names once again so that he can be released.

"We are hopeful that the latest set of names from the city sent by us will be acceptable to the police and Sammad will be released at least by today evening," said his relative.