The Delhi High Court will hear the case again on January 27 next year. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (December 11, 2024) issued notices to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Embassy in Qatar, seeking their response to a plea filed by the father of an incarcerated Indian citizen.
The father of Muhammed Kayalvakkath Bava, who has been serving a sentence in jail in Qatar since June 26, 2016 and is due to remain incarcerated till July 3, 2028, approached the court seeking directions to facilitate consular access for his son.
Kunhibava, represented by advocate Jaimon Andrews, sought a direction to the MEA and the Indian Embassy in Qatar to provide necessary legal and procedural support to his son before the foreign court.
Mr. Kunhibava said his son was “unable to initiate legal proceedings against a clear case of forgery”.
“His signatures were allegedly forged to transfer shares…through an agreement dated October 25, 2017. Additionally, a document dated November 8, 2017, purportedly notarised before the Documentation Department, State of Qatar, is also claimed to be forged,” the plea said.
The plea contended that Mr. Muhammed Bava could not have signed these documents while imprisoned during the relevant period.
“However, due to his imprisonment, Mr. Muhammed Bava has been unable to pursue legal action against the individuals who defrauded him,” the plea added.
The petition said Mr. Bava had been carrying out businesses in Qatar for about 30 years and owned 10 hyper-markets, and various other business establishments. It said Mr. Bava was also the dealer for a Qatari telecom company namely ‘Ooredoo’.
Mr. Andrews said consular access would entail regular communication and assistance for Mr. Bava during his imprisonment.
The court will hear the case again on January 27 next year.
Published – December 11, 2024 08:51 pm IST
