Khuzaima Qutbuddin, claimant for the position 'Dai Al-Mutlaq' (head of Dawoodi Bohra community), today told the Bombay High Court that his half- brother and late 52nd Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin had appointed him as 'Mazoon' (second in command) before he died.
"The late Syedna had also issued a sermon at that time that I was a beloved son....This signifies that I was his successor," said Qutbuddin who has challenged the succession of Muffadal Saifuddin, Syedna's son, as the 53rd Dai.
Qutbuddin (74), who has filed a suit seeking that he be declared the 53rd Syedna, was being cross-examined by the lawyer of present Syedna, Muffadal Saifuddin. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin died on January 17, 2014.
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Qutbuddin stated that the late 52nd Dai, had on December 10, 1965, conferred a 'nass' (process for appointing a successor) on him. However, he had not made it public and told him to keep it a secret.
To Saifuddin's argument that there was no witness to the 'nass', Qutbuddin said that he himself was a witness.
Other than Syed Saleh Bhaisaheb (the third in command after the Syedna and called as 'Mukasir'), others may have also known about conferring of the 'nass' on him because they accorded more respect to him thereafter, he added.
Qutbuddin alleged that his brother late Yusuf bhaisaheb Najmuddin, who is the father-in-law of the incumbent Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin, and other brothers, their sons and daughters and supporters had 'schemed' to 'malign' his image.
"From 1961-62, Yusuf Bhaisaheb felt slighted and jealous. Yusufbhai personally told me that he was jealous of me... because I had attained such a high position at a young age," he alleged.
