Premji helped in Bidapa's release

BANGALORE: Wipro Chairman Azim H. Premji was one among several high-profile personalities who had helped leading Indian fashion designer Prasad Bidapa's release from the detention centre in Dubai.

The Dubai police took Bidapa into custody last month on charges of possessing marijuana.

Speaking to the media a day after his arrival here, the fashion designer said that Azim Premji was among those who gave him character certificates, which helped in his release from al-Rishidiya detention centre.

“They gave a letter stating they know me for 25 years. He is working in Bangalore and he is a meaningful person. We know him. Please understand that it was not a deliberate mistake. Please give him clemency,” he told reporters.

The character certificates along with the mercy petition by his wife, Judith Bidapa, expedited his release.

Maharashtra governor and former Karnataka chief minister S.M. Krishna, state minister for industries and infrastructure P.G.R. Sindhia, liquor baron-turned-politician Vijay Mallya, former union minister Maneka Gandhi, fashion designer Rohit Bal were also among those who had helped in the release of Bidapa.