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The controversy involving dropping of Prevention of Terrorism Ordinance charges against suspected Al Qaeda member Mohammed Afroz took a curious turn on Wednesday with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal denying that he had directed the police to invoke the stringent anti-terrorism legislation against the accused.
"I had not ordered invoking of POTO against Afroz," Bhujbal, who also holds home portfolio, said.
Bhujbal's denial assumes significance in the wake of Minister of State for Home Kripashankar Singh's reported statement in a section of the media that the former had directed Joint Commissioner of Police B S Mohite to apply POTO against Afroz.
"It was entirely police's decision to apply POTO against the Al Qaeda member and its subsequent withdrawal," Bhujbal said.
Singh's statement also brought to the fore differences between Congress and Nationalist Congress Party over the controversial legislation.
While the NCP had favoured the POT Bill, the Congress had dubbed it as 'draconian' and opposed the Bill's passage in Parliament.
The deputy chief minister, however, admitted that the police had approached the government before applying POTO against Afroz.
"They merely wanted to know whether POTO can be used against Afroz. The government told the investigating agency that the legislation was in force and can be invoked, if needed," he said.
Bhujbal clarified that the government at no stage had directed the police to apply POTO against the alleged Al Qaeda member.
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