The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the CBI to file a status report into the alleged morphing of a photograph of country’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad published in a book titled ‘Journey of a Legend: Maulana Abul Kalam Azad 1888-1958’ by Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in 2005.
In the alleged morphed photograph it was shown that Azad was seating with Nazma Heptulla (Minority affairs minister in Narendra Modi’s cabinet) after her graduation. The publication was later withdrawn by ICCR immediately.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for Azad’s grand-nephew Firoz Bakht Ahmed, told the court that it was a morphed photograph as Heptulla had graduated in May 1958, whereas Azad had passed away on 22 February, 1958. Earlier, the plea was filed by Ahmed who alleged that it was on Heptulla’s instance, the photograph was morphed, when she was heading the ICCR. Justice Vibhu Bakhru sought a response from the CBI by 14 November, after it failed to file the reply on the issue.
Bhushan had earlier argued that it has been the practice of the CBI to shield influential politicians owing to which the inquiry has been pending for nine years, he added.
In the alleged morphed photograph it was shown that Azad was seating with Nazma Heptulla (Minority affairs minister in Narendra Modi’s cabinet) after her graduation. The publication was later withdrawn by ICCR immediately.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for Azad’s grand-nephew Firoz Bakht Ahmed, told the court that it was a morphed photograph as Heptulla had graduated in May 1958, whereas Azad had passed away on 22 February, 1958. Earlier, the plea was filed by Ahmed who alleged that it was on Heptulla’s instance, the photograph was morphed, when she was heading the ICCR. Justice Vibhu Bakhru sought a response from the CBI by 14 November, after it failed to file the reply on the issue.
Bhushan had earlier argued that it has been the practice of the CBI to shield influential politicians owing to which the inquiry has been pending for nine years, he added.