Hyderabad marriage racket: Family of accused qazi say he was framed

Family of Mumbai's chief qazi Farid Ahmed Khan arrested inmarriage racket case today said that he has been framed in the case.

Khan's son Umair told India Today that his father was approached two months after the nikah and that the girl's age was 23 in the affidavit and passport. Khan is currently in the custody of Hyderabad Police and his role is being investigated in the case.

"My father is a recognised qazi. Hence, people come to him for translation of the nikhanama in English so that consulates accept it. My father did the same in this case. This couple from Hyderabad came to us two months after their marriage. They gave us a nikhanama, passport and affidavit which said that the girl was 23-years old. Based on the Nikhanama and the witness which came to us my father translated the nikhanama and forwarded it to Oman consulate," said Umair.

Khan's name cropped up in the case as he had signed in the marriage certificate of the couple. "The nikhanama which we were given was not signed by the qazi who performed the marriage. We accept that our father shouldn't have signed the marriage certificate. But to character assassination is not right. We have a responsibility, as we have been qazis for decades now. We were shown some documents and on that basis this certificate was issued," said Umair.

Hyderabad police is investigating the incident where a 16-year old girl who was married to an Omani sheikh in May.

The complaint was lodged by girl's parents at Falaknuma police station in the old city in August. The marriage certificate was obtained from Mumbai and the trail led to Mumbai-based Khan.