A month after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States, Mumbai Police arrested a young man whose claims opened a startling line of inquiry. Mohammed Afroz, a resident of Cheeta Camp in Mumbai, allegedly told investigators that he was connected to the wider conspiracy behind the attacks and that similar operations had been planned in Britain and Australia.
His allegations prompted an international investigation involving teams from Mumbai Police. Then Mumbai Police Commissioner MN Singh also travelled to the United Kingdom as part of the probe.
How Afroz came under police scanner
In October 2001, police received intelligence about Afroz, who had lived in Cheeta Camp, a low-income settlement near Trombay, and had travelled overseas for pilot training.
His background immediately drew investigators' attention. His father was a tailor, and police questioned how the family could have financed an expensive pilot training programme abroad. Investigators began looking into whether someone else had funded his education.
After learning that Afroz had returned to India, police searched for him. He was eventually traced to Hotel Abbott in Vashi, Navi Mumbai, where he was arrested.
According to the police account, Afroz told investigators that he had been involved with the Al Qaeda conspiracy linked to the September 11 attacks.
Claims of attacks in Britain, Australia
Police said Afroz claimed he had been assigned to hijack a flight from London's Heathrow Airport to Manchester and crash it into the British Parliament on September 11.
The alleged operation could not be carried out after the attacks in the US triggered heightened security measures at airports worldwide.
Afroz also allegedly told investigators that a wealthy British businessman, Mubarak Musalman, had financed his pilot training. He reportedly named Maulana Mansoor Ilyas, based in Victoria, Australia, as another person who encouraged his involvement in terrorism.
According to the claims recorded by police, Afroz had received pilot training in Australia, Britain and the US. He also allegedly spoke of another team preparing to target Melbourne's Rialto Towers.
International probe finds no supporting evidence
Afroz was initially detained in connection with a robbery case before being booked under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA).
Given the seriousness of his allegations, Mumbai Police sent teams to the US, Britain and Australia to verify his claims. The investigation, however, did not produce evidence that could substantiate the allegations against him in court.
The prosecution subsequently approved the removal of the POTA charges, following which Afroz was released.
He later contested the Anushakti Nagar Assembly election but lost. Afroz maintained that the police had falsely implicated him and that the allegations against him were fabricated.