Fund collection in various masjids

KOCHI: There is reliable information that there was fund collection by ‘Justice for Madani Forum’ based in various masjids, DGP Jacob Punnoose submitted before the Kerala High Court on Wednesday .   The DGP further submitted that all the district police chiefs were directed to conduct a detailed probe into the alleged fund collection. He stated that they were asked to take  action under the provisions of Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act 1988, if  violation is noticed. He also produced  in a sealed cover, an  Intelligence  report regarding this.  After the perusal of the  report, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J Chelameswar and Justice P R Ramachandra Menon  decided to consider the case after four weeks.The  DGP made the submissions in response to a petition filed by P G Mohandas of Kochi seeking a CBI probe into the fund collection by ‘Justice for Madani forum’ in masjids  across the state.He also submitted that the Kochi city police commissioner had issued a memo to the then Assistant Commissioner Shamsu Illikkal and  action would be initiated against him if the explanation is not satisfactory.  The petitioner in his petition alleged that Shamsu Illickal had abused  and threatened him asking to withdraw the petition when a complaint was filed at the police station. According to the DGP, the fund collection was carried out at the Poonthura Puthen Pally, Bheema Pally and Jawahar Pally in Thiruvananthapuram and also in Thrissur district.   The District Special Branch in each district has also been instructed to be vigilant in this regard.The petitioner contended that the forum with a supposed objective of getting justice for Abdul Naser Madani, who is lodged in Bangalore jail in connection with Bangalore serial blasts, has been collecting funds from various masjids in Kerala and other states.