Sayed Firoz owns the famous garment shop ‘Option by Firoz’ near hotel Silver Inn in Camp area.

Accused Firoz owns famous shop

Sayed Firoz, the alleged Indian Mujahideen operative who has been arrested by the Delhi police in connection with the Jungli Maharaj road blasts, was in Pune till a fortnight ago but neither the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad nor the Pune police could zero down on him. Sayed Firoz owns the famous garment shop ‘Option by Firoz’ near hotel Silver Inn in Camp area. In fact, Maharashtra ATS chief Rakesh Maria himself camped in Pune for a long time after the blasts and the ATS had kept on saying that its investigations were on the right track. However, Firoz was never questioned. When the Delhi police announced Firoz, the ATS and Pune police officers were also surprised. “This is for the first time his name is coming up for alleged involvement in an act of terror. Most probably he had joined the outfit recently,” an officer said. However, the arrest Sayyed in Jungli Maharaj blast case has shocked his family members. Firoz’s family members claimed that they were not aware of his arrest till Thursday afternoon. Sayed’s father Abdul Hamid Sayed who supplies milk, said, “I was not aware of Firoz’s arrest till afternoon. Only after police came to our house and started inquiring, we switched on the television and we were shocked to see the news of Firoz’s arrest in Delhi.” Abdul Hamid Sayed stays at his younger son and Feroz’s brother Faiyaz’s house in Danish Corner society near Rashtra Bhushan Chowk and he said that he was not much in touch with Feroz for past ten years. He said, “We were into key-making business and Feroz would help us in that business. However, after he started his garment business, he would hardly come to meet us. Only if Firoz’s mother wished meet him, he would come to this house.” Sayed has a house in Grace Corner Society near Mecca Masjid in Guruwar Peth where he was staying with his wife and four children. Team DNA visited his residence on Thursday, however, it was found to be locked. Firoz’s father-in-law Zahiruddin Shaikh who stays in the same society said Feroz went to Delhi without informing his family members. He said, “He would go on tour for his business-related work but he would not inform about his visits to his wife. He left his house nearly 15 to 20 days back and only after his wife called him, she came to know that he had gone to Delhi for some work.” “For the past few days we were not able contact him and his wife was getting worried. Only on Thursday afternoon we have come to know about his arrest and since then she is crying,” Zahuruddin said. Though the Delhi police claimed Firoz’s involvement in the blasts, his father and father-in-law said they are still not able to believe this. “Feroz was very cooperative and he was working in a committee, which would help the people going for Haj pilgrimage. In fact he had gone to Delhi to arrange for the visa and special passes for people going for Haj pilgrimage from Pune,” said Abdul Hamid Sayed. Feroz has opened two garment shops by the name of ‘Options by Firoz’ in the Camp area. According to Sarfaraz Qazi, working in Firoz’s shop, “Feroz would not left his shop unattended. He was always involved in his business.” After the news of Firoz’s arrest, there was a huge police presence outside shops and both the shops were closed for some time in the afternoon.