A crowd of supporters had gathered outside the Tihar Jail late on Saturday to greet journalist Syed Mohammad Kazmi when he was released on bail. Kazmi took the ride back home in an open, decorated jeep.
Raising slogans like "jail ke taale toot gaye, Kazmi sahib chhoot gaye", and "America murdabad, Kazmi sahib zindabad", over 500 people in buses and cars carried posters of Kazmi and followed Kazmi to Karbala Masjid in Jor Bagh where a half-an-hour-long procession was taken out right up to the journalist's home. Over 50 policemen maintained tight security all along the procession route.
Kazmi was arrested in March for his alleged role in the bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat's car in February; but he was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Friday. "I am thankful to the judiciary," Kazmi said when he reached the Karbala Masjid.
His family and friends were waiting there to greet him; his two sons, Shauzab and Taurab, hugged him and cried. Kazmi's sister Shauzad Fatima, who watched the family reunion from a distance, said it was the best gift god could have given to the family. "I am waiting for him to get free from meeting all the people; we will sit down together and talk later. Eid will be grand this time," she told TOI.
Soon, the crowd broke into a cheer and burst firecrackers.
Kazmi later told the media that he was framed. "The truth will come out in the end. The case will not result in conviction," he said.
Kazmi, however, refused to speak on the charges that have been slapped on him in the police chargesheet. "I was picked up by the police because I am a journalist working with Iranian news agencies for many years," he said while commenting on the incident.
On Friday, the apex court had directed Kazmi to surrender his passport, report to the local police station, and not leave the city limits where he would be residing without the permission of the court, so that he would be present at the time of the trial.
Kazmi was detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the February 13 blast that had occurred on Aurangzeb Road-Race Course Road crossing. Israeli diplomat Tel Yehoshua Koren was injured in the blast.