Dr. Adnan Ali Sarkar and Co‑accused Found Guilty of Funding ISIS in India

A Mumbai special court under the National Investigation Agency has convicted Dr. Adnan Ali Sarkar for his role in an ISIS‑linked terror module that operated in Maharashtra. The judgment, delivered on 7 November, cites violations of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act – sections 13, 18, 20, 38, 39 – together with IPC sections 201 and 120‑B.

Dr. Sarkar received a sentence of up to six years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹65,000. Six individuals were charged in total, including Tabish Nasir Siddiqui, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala alias Lalabhai, Sharjeel Sheikh, Akif Atik Nachan, and Zubair Noor Mohammad Sheikh alias Abu Nusae ba. All have been ordered to remain in judicial custody.

The NIA began formal proceedings on 28 June 2023 after Home Ministry intelligence flagged a conspiracy intended to threaten India’s unity, integrity and sovereignty. The investigation uncovered an extensive network that spanned borders, involving ISIS leaders operating from abroad.

Investigators established that the accused were instrumental in spreading extremist doctrine, recruiting vulnerable youth, generating funds for terror operations, and disseminating ISIS periodicals such as "Voice of Hind" and "Voice of Khurasan."

While the court concluded the cases against the six listed suspects, the agency announced that prosecutions against the remaining five members of the conspiracy are still pending. NIA reaffirmed its resolve to intensify actions against terrorism financing and propaganda.