(PTI): The Bombay High Court has rejected the bail plea of Maulana Yahya Baksh, arrested last year for allegedly sheltering terrorists and funding three Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives. Justice J H Bhatia rejected the bail considering the seriousness of the offence as it could hamper the trial. Baksh's advocate Mubin Solkar told the court that his client's involvement was only to the extent of exchanging lower denomination currency to higher denomination and booking the room at Haj House for three of the accused. However, Baksh had done so at the behest of a Haj House official's driver Ghulam Mohammed, who asked Baksh to book the room for three of his relatives from Kashmir, said Solkar. Baksh had no idea of the terrorist connections. Also, they never came and stayed in the room, added Adv Solkar. Also, exchanging currency notes did not amount to raising funds for terrorists, he further told the court.
Solkar said Baksh had been in jail for more than a year now. Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare opposed the bail submitting that the police had recorded conversation between Baksh and top LeT operatives. Also, sheltering and funding three of the LeT suspects was a serious crime, said Thakare.