Haneef returns to Bangalore

After his 25-day harrowing ordeal in Australia, Indian doctor Mohammad Haneef, wrongly accused of helping a terrorist group, returned home here tonight to a highly emotional welcome by his family.

Clad in a dark suit and a maroon striped shirt, Haneef, looking relaxed after being absolved of terror charges in Australia, landed at the Bangalore airport at around 2130 hours and was warmly received by his father-in-law Ishtiaque Ahmed and brother.

A huge contingent of mediapersons, police personnel laid a siege around Haneef who reached accompanied by his cousin Imran Siddiqui who had gone to Australia to help him in his legal case and lawyer Peter Ruso.

Earlier in a reportedly paid interview with Australian Channel Nine Network, the Indian doctor, when asked whether he was a terrorist, said, "It's not in my nature to ever support or involve (myself) in such activities at all."

He said he never meant to hurt anyone by his words and so could not think of hurting anyone by his activity.

Haneef said he was never a risk to Australia and would have informed authorities had he known his cousins Kafeel and Sabeel Ahmed were plotting attacks in the UK.

"It's not in my nature to ever support or involve (myself) in such activities at all," 27-year-old Haneef said.

He acknowledged visiting Kafeel Ahmed, his relative who was arrested in the UK in connection with the failed Glasgow airport attack, in 2004 but said they had never lived together.