Bengaluru: While Momin Shah, the father of Maulana Anzarshah Qasmi (50), a Bengaluru-based cleric, who has been arrested for his alleged links with the terror organization al-Qaeda, has been claiming that his son is innocent, the Karnataka’s Home Minister G Parameshwara maintained that the state was not involved in the probe.

“The Maulana was arrested by the New Delhi police on the basis of their own investigation. They are interrogating him on specific leads. I cannot comment on the progress of the probe,” said Parameshwara, as pressure is mounting on the Siddaramaiah-led Congress government to intervene in the matter.

Sha, claimed that his son was merely a Muslim scholar and clergyman. “I request the media to probe all angles to ascertain whether my son delivered any anti-national speeches or indulged in activities that are detrimental to the interests of the nation. He is not connected with any terror organization. My son is being framed in this case,” he added.