Infy told to reinstate engineer detained by police after Jaipur blasts

JAIPUR: A local court has directed the Infosys company to reinstate its employee, a senior network engineer, whose service was terminated after his detention by police in the wake of 2008 Jaipur serial bomb blasts.

The court recently directed the firm's Jaipur chapter to reinstate Rashid Hussain in his former position and pay his salary for the entire period.

"I was picked up by the Special Operation Group of the Rajasthan Police on June 1, 2008 from my house and released eight days later.

"They could not find anything to substantiate their claim that I was involved in the conspiracy relating to the Jaipur blasts," Rashid told reporters here today.

"I was actively helping the blast victims and their family members and held a camp outside the SMS hospital after the explosions," he said.

"The police suspected me of having links with banned outfit SIMI and detained me," Rashid said.

The court observed there were "mala fide" intentions behind his termination, said Rashid's counsel Prem Kishan Sharma.

"The applicant was not offered any opportunity to explain or give evidence on charges levelled against him about concealment of facts and submission of wrong facts.

"The termination is in violation of the Rajasthan Shops and Commercial Establishment Act, 1958. Therefore, he is entitled to be reinstated in service," the order said.

Rashid, 38, is, at present, working with a private university in the city.

"After receiving the copy of the judgement on Saturday, I contacted the company. I am awaiting its response," he said.