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The latter, quick to condemn him in the Parliament attack probe, was equally quick to deny the allegations. Geelani’s supporters though won’t settle for anything less than a CBI probe, and have met Union home minister Shivraj Patil seeking his intervention. Roy, citing the investigation into the Parliament attack, alleged it "was full of loopholes" and that the police had "manufactured evidence" then too. Geelani’s lawyer Nandita Haksar, the last to meet him, alleges the security agencies had her and Geelani under surveillance. "There was no plan for us to meet at Vasant Enclave. But then I felt we needed to discuss certain aspects of the case...so I called him up and he came over." The only way anyone could have known he was coming over, she alleges, was by illegally "tapping the phones".

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police issued a terse one-page denial on its "alleged role" in the attempted murder. JCP Ranjeet Narain said: "Certain sections of the media have been quoting Nandita Haksar and blaming the police for the attack. This is absolutely baseless and a figment of their imagination." But it isn’t going to be that easy. The SC, currently hearing their appeal, has called the incident "disturbing" and has instructed the Delhi Police to furnish a detailed report within a week.

By Saikat Datta