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Rediff.com  » News » Indian filmmaker's bail hearing shifted to September 2

Indian filmmaker's bail hearing shifted to September 2

Source: PTI
August 26, 2010 15:32 IST
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The immigration bail hearing of Indian documentary filmmaker Vijay Kumar, who was detained at an airport in Houston for carrying a weapon in his baggage, has been shifted to September 2.

Forty-year-old Kumar, being currently held at the Houston Contract Detention Facility, is in "very confused, disturbed, frightened and nervous state of mind due to the current turn of events in a foreign land", his lawyer Roger Jain told PTI.

"Being a vegetarian, adds to his miseries as it is very difficult for him to even eat properly," Jain said.

Due to the uncertain events, the criminal hearing in the state district court, scheduled for Friday, will also be rescheduled as Kumar won't be allowed move freely before his immigration bond hearing, he said.

"Kumar is being detained for no reason and putting him in an immigration holding place after getting the bail, is very confusing," said Jain.

Giving Kumar a clean chit or not depends solely on the immigration hearing on September 2. His passport is still with the authorities.

"Kumar is a peaceful man and not a terrorist and we were able to convince the court," Jain said.

Kumar, who was arrested at the Houston airport last week for carrying Jihadi literature and brass knuckles, was let off on a bond of $5,000 but was taken into immigration holding place in the wee hours on Monday.

Transportation security administration agents also found manuals on how to spy and create explosives in the man's bags. Prosecutors are also concerned about the books on Islam found in Kumar's possession.

So far, Kumar has been only charged for carrying the weapon. However, since the weapon was in his check-in-baggage, his lawyers argue that it was clear he did not want to attack anyone.

"If he had such plans, he would have kept it in the hand luggage," they said.

"Their client is a documentary filmmaker, who made movies on Islamic terrorism and has been researching a lot on the subject. He was invited by the Hindu Maha Sabha of America to participate in a discussion regarding Islamic terrorism and hence he was carrying literature on the subject. There is no other reason for him to carry the material," Jain said.

According to Indian Consul General in Houston Sanjiv Arora, "We are in direct contact with the authorities, who granted them consular access that enabled them to meet Vijay Kumar. And, he is doing good and cooperating with the authorities well and would be produced before an immigration judge shortly."
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