Succession doc attested by ex-CJI

Mumbai: In a major disclosure in the Bohra community succession case, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin, who was being cross-examined by the counsel of Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin Mr. Chagla, said that he was unaware of the historical documents for his father’s succession as the 53rd Dai (absolute spiritual leader) shown to Justice A.M. Ahmadi, the former Chief Justice of India.

Mr Fakhruddin also said that though his father had never specifically told him of being the successor to the 52nd Dai until after the 52nd Dai passed away, the actions of the family members, including the defendant in this suit and his brothers, who were doing sajda to his father, led him to believe that his father would be the 53rd Dai.  

Mr Fakhruddin also said that though his father had never told him of being the successor to the 52nd Dai, the actions of the family members did give him an insight into the possibility. On the second day of the cross-examination in the court of Justice Gautam Patel, senior counsel Iqbal Chagla continued questioning Mr Fakhruddin over the role he played in announcing the succession of his father Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin as the 53rd Dai after the death of Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin, the 52nd Dai in January 2014.

When asked as to why Mr Fakhruddin had started a separate website on January 17, 2014, on which sermons, videos and other matter pertaining to the religion and leadership of Qutbuddin had been posted, he said it was done to make the followers aware of the new leader. He also said that as there was no official website of the community prior to that, the new website, was meant to disseminate messages and directions of the 53rd Dai to the community.

Mr Fakhruddin further said that the copy of the 51st Dai’s misaal (letter) to his father, the original plaintiff, had been uploaded on it to lay to rest doubts about his father’s succession to the 52nd Dai. He also agreed that the content being uploaded on the website was being done under his guidance along with his brothers while he was in the United States.

When questioned about the attestation of the document by the former CJI, he said he was unaware that his father had met Mr Ahmadi in this regard.

Mr Ahmadi had said after seeing the documents, “I examined the documents and believe that Syedna Qutbuddin’s stand of the 53rd Dai is principled.”

According to senior counsel Anand Desai, the confirmation by Mr Ahmadi has amply proved the succession of Qutbuddin. The cross-examination will continue in January, 2018.