There’s a new twist in the Nawazuddin Siddiqui - CDR case. Nawazuddin’s lawyer Rizwan Siddiqui was earlier arrested for allegedly illegally obtaining call detail records (CDR). Now Rizwan Siddiqui’s lawyer, Rizwan Merchant has alleged that his client is being made a scapegoat by Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his brother to safeguard the interests of the main person involved in the case.
The Crime Branch of Thane police had arrested Rizwan Siddiqui for allegedly illegally obtaining call detail records (CDR) from private detectives. The Police Commissioner of Thane has stated that Nawaz has played no role in the CDR scam and said that he is only a “witness”.
“Nawazuddin Siddiqui has no direct role in the Call Data Record (CDR) case. He was summoned as a witness & has assured cooperation,” said Parambir Singh, Police Commissioner, Thane to ANI.
Police had earlier arrested 11 persons in the case, including woman private detective Rajni Pandit.
Police had summoned Advocate Rizwan Siddiqui for recording his statement after his name came up during the probe, but he failed to turn up, said Sukhada Narkar, spokesperson of Thane police.
Police went to his house in Mumbai tonight and took him in custody, she said.
According to a report in ANI, the lawyer Rizwan Siddiqui who was arrested by Crime Branch Unit on 16 March, says, “I have recorded my statement, system that is being followed is against law,” and also added that he is being framed.
Siddiqui has represented several celebrities including Bollywood actors.
Pandit, a well-known woman detective, was arrested in the case on February 2. She got bail recently.
The racket, which involved illegal procurement and sale of CDRs, came to light in January this year.
Last week the Thane police had said that they had also summoned actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui, his wife and his lawyer in connection with the investigation.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Abhishek Trimukhi had said that some of the accused told police that a lawyer had obtained CDRs of Nawazuddin's wife from private detectives.
The actor and his wife are yet to record their statements, police said.
(With inputs from PTI, ANI)
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