In 2007, late advocate Shahid Azmi, who was the defence lawyer for the accused in the 7/11 serial blasts case, the 2006 Malegaon blasts case and the Aurangabad Arms haul case, had approached the President of the Jamiat Ulema e-Hind Maulana Sayyed Arshad Madani, based in New Delhi, for legal aid.

Azmi had drafted a petition that challenged the application of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the three cases and wanted to pursue the matter in the Supreme Court. Maulana Madani was convinced that there was a larger good in pursuing the petition, and he recommended that the Jamiat Ulema e Maharashtra, based in Imamwada in South Mumbai offer financial aid in the matter.