Nadeem Akhtar Ashfaq Shaikh, an accused in the 13/7 Mumbai serial blasts case, has become a lawyer. After spending 14 years in Arthur Road Jail, Shaikh was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in February. He subsequently obtained a license from the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and is now representing clients in court.

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13/7 Blasts And Arrest

Shaikh, originally from Darbhanga, Bihar, moved to Mumbai in 2002. While pursuing a B.Com degree, he worked as a pizza delivery boy and assisted a relative with his SIM card business, Hindustan Times reported.

On July 13, 2011, three blasts at Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House, and Dadar killed 27 people and injured 127. Investigators alleged that the SIM cards used in the attack were purchased from the shop owned by Shaikh's relative. Based on this connection, Shaikh was arrested in January 2012 at age 22 and charged under several stringent laws, including the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Law Studies Behind Bars

During his incarceration at Arthur Road Jail, Shaikh pursued higher education. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree from an open university in 2014. In 2019, he cleared the State Common Entrance Test and secured admission to a law college in Thane.

With financial assistance from Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, he completed his studies in prison and appeared for his law examinations under police protection with court permission.

High Court Grants Bail

The Bombay High Court granted Shaikh bail on February 10, citing the prolonged duration of the trial. The court noted that only 167 of over 400 witnesses had been examined in ten years, making a speedy conclusion unlikely. His father died during this period.

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His Law Career

Shaikh received his practice certificate in July and took on his first case. To date, he has taken on four cases, including one he is fighting for free, earning Rs 50,000 from his legal practice.

Shaikh stated that his personal experience as an inmate allows him to better understand the issues faced by prisoners. He is currently residing with his family while contesting his ongoing trial in court to prove his innocence.

(With Inputs From Jagran.com)