Tag: National Investigation Agency

  • NIA chargsheets 68 in PFI cases of Kerala, TN

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed two chargesheets against 68 Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders, cadres and members in two separate cases in Kochi (Kerala) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). The charges against them include “conspiring to carry out acts of terror and violence with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic Rule in India by 2047.”

    According to NIA sources, the chargesheets filed Friday in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the two states where PFI is active, relate to separate “criminal conspiracies” relating to creating a wedge between people of different communities through radicalisation of impressionable Muslim youth, providing them with training in handling of weapons, and raising funds for carrying out acts of terror and violence with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic Rule in India by 2047.

    With these, the total number of chargesheets filed by NIA against PFI cadres this month has gone up to four. The first such chargesheet was filed in Jaipur on March 13 and the second in Hyderabad on March 16.

    The Kerala PFI case was registered in September 2022.

    The chargesheet was filed in the Special Court for NIA Cases, Ernakulam, against the PFI as an organisation and 58 other accused persons. NIA had arrested 16 of the accused after taking over the case in 2022, while the others were arrested earlier by Kerala Police. More than 100 locations across the state were raided in connection with the case. The NIA has also attached 17 properties as they were identified as ‘proceeds of terrorism’ and frozen 18 bank accounts of the accused during the course of its investigations.

    In a similar case registered and investigated by NIA’s Chennai branch in Tamil Nadu, the agency filed a chargesheet against 10 accused. 

    NIA investigations allegedly revealed that to achieve their objectives, PFI had established various wings & units including the “physical and arms training wing.” 

    The PFI was allegedly using its various campuses, facilities and infrastructure to impart arms training to selected cadres in the guise of physical education, Yoga training, etc. 

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed two chargesheets against 68 Popular Front of India (PFI) leaders, cadres and members in two separate cases in Kochi (Kerala) and Chennai (Tamil Nadu). The charges against them include “conspiring to carry out acts of terror and violence with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic Rule in India by 2047.”

    According to NIA sources, the chargesheets filed Friday in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the two states where PFI is active, relate to separate “criminal conspiracies” relating to creating a wedge between people of different communities through radicalisation of impressionable Muslim youth, providing them with training in handling of weapons, and raising funds for carrying out acts of terror and violence with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic Rule in India by 2047.

    With these, the total number of chargesheets filed by NIA against PFI cadres this month has gone up to four. The first such chargesheet was filed in Jaipur on March 13 and the second in Hyderabad on March 16.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The Kerala PFI case was registered in September 2022.

    The chargesheet was filed in the Special Court for NIA Cases, Ernakulam, against the PFI as an organisation and 58 other accused persons. NIA had arrested 16 of the accused after taking over the case in 2022, while the others were arrested earlier by Kerala Police. More than 100 locations across the state were raided in connection with the case. The NIA has also attached 17 properties as they were identified as ‘proceeds of terrorism’ and frozen 18 bank accounts of the accused during the course of its investigations.

    In a similar case registered and investigated by NIA’s Chennai branch in Tamil Nadu, the agency filed a chargesheet against 10 accused. 

    NIA investigations allegedly revealed that to achieve their objectives, PFI had established various wings & units including the “physical and arms training wing.” 

    The PFI was allegedly using its various campuses, facilities and infrastructure to impart arms training to selected cadres in the guise of physical education, Yoga training, etc. 

  • NIA will probe Rajouri twin attacks, says Amit Shah

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu police will jointly investigate the recent twin militant attacks in Rajouri village in which seven civilians were killed, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday, adding that the attack will be avenged and perpetrators brought before the court of law and dealt severe punishment.

    He also sought to reassure the people of a secure atmosphere with a new action plan by establishing a 360-degree security net for the Jammu region. Shah arrived in Jammu to visit the family members of the seven civilians killed in the twin attacks on January 1 and 2. However, he could not visit the area due to inclement weather. Later, he reached out to the families on the phone. 

    “I talked to the families and heard their issues. All of them said the area belongs to them and they won’t leave it. Their spirit is an example for the whole country,” he told reporters in Jammu. Shah also chaired a high-level meeting, attended by J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha along with top security and intelligence officials, to review the security situation in Jammu. 

    Meanwhile, the NIA has filed a chargesheet in a special court in Jammu against Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Sajjad Gul and five others in connection with the interception of a drone laden with magnetic bombs in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district in May year.  

    SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu police will jointly investigate the recent twin militant attacks in Rajouri village in which seven civilians were killed, Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday, adding that the attack will be avenged and perpetrators brought before the court of law and dealt severe punishment.

    He also sought to reassure the people of a secure atmosphere with a new action plan by establishing a 360-degree security net for the Jammu region. Shah arrived in Jammu to visit the family members of the seven civilians killed in the twin attacks on January 1 and 2. However, he could not visit the area due to inclement weather. Later, he reached out to the families on the phone. 

    “I talked to the families and heard their issues. All of them said the area belongs to them and they won’t leave it. Their spirit is an example for the whole country,” he told reporters in Jammu. Shah also chaired a high-level meeting, attended by J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha along with top security and intelligence officials, to review the security situation in Jammu. 

    Meanwhile, the NIA has filed a chargesheet in a special court in Jammu against Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Sajjad Gul and five others in connection with the interception of a drone laden with magnetic bombs in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua district in May year. 
     

  • NIA footprint in all states by 2024

    By Express News Service

    FARIDABAD:  In what could have far-reaching consequences, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will open branches across all states by 2024 besides getting “extra-territorial rights”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Thursday.

    Inaugurating a twoday Chintan Shivir of home ministers on internal security, Shah said his ministry was in the process of amending the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The drafts will soon be placed in Parliament.

    Although Shah did not elaborate on the extra-territorial rights to the NIA, ministry sources said it will give the agency the power to investigate all types of cases across many domain areas within India. While the NIA, which was formed in 2008, at present has four hubs in as many metropolitan cities, the move to establish branches in all states will likely be opposed by non-BJPruled state governments.

    The expansion in the NIA’s powers, Shah said, also involves granting it the authority to confiscate a terrorist’s property. The last time it was granted enhanced powers was in 2019 when the NIA Act gave it the power to investigate the schedule of fences committed outside India, though subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.

    Under the Act, the Centre could direct the organisation to investigate such cases as if the offence has been committed in India. Besides, NIA officers have “all the powers, duties, privileges and liabilities which police officers have in connection with an investigation of offences”. Shah said his ministry intends to set targets for divisions handling cybercrime, drugs, internal security and border management for 2047.

    Nixing FCRA Claiming theFCRA licence of some NGOs was nixed since they were involved in religious conversions, Shah said they were “raising funds from foreign sources with impunity”

    FARIDABAD:  In what could have far-reaching consequences, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will open branches across all states by 2024 besides getting “extra-territorial rights”, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Thursday.

    Inaugurating a twoday Chintan Shivir of home ministers on internal security, Shah said his ministry was in the process of amending the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The drafts will soon be placed in Parliament.

    Although Shah did not elaborate on the extra-territorial rights to the NIA, ministry sources said it will give the agency the power to investigate all types of cases across many domain areas within India. While the NIA, which was formed in 2008, at present has four hubs in as many metropolitan cities, the move to establish branches in all states will likely be opposed by non-BJPruled state governments.

    The expansion in the NIA’s powers, Shah said, also involves granting it the authority to confiscate a terrorist’s property. The last time it was granted enhanced powers was in 2019 when the NIA Act gave it the power to investigate the schedule of fences committed outside India, though subject to international treaties and domestic laws of other countries.

    Under the Act, the Centre could direct the organisation to investigate such cases as if the offence has been committed in India. Besides, NIA officers have “all the powers, duties, privileges and liabilities which police officers have in connection with an investigation of offences”. Shah said his ministry intends to set targets for divisions handling cybercrime, drugs, internal security and border management for 2047.

    Nixing FCRA Claiming the
    FCRA licence of some NGOs was nixed since they were involved in religious conversions, Shah said they were “raising funds from foreign sources with impunity”

  • Special court grants custody of 11 PFI activists to NIA till September 30 

    By PTI

    KOCHI: A special court here on Saturday granted the National Investigation Agency the custody of 11 Popular Front of India (PFI) activists, who were arrested on September 22. The NIA special court granted the custody till September 30.

    The accused, who were taken to the court, raised slogans against the probe agency.

    However, a lawyer representing some of the accused said the court asked them to avoid sloganeering as it was ready to hear them.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has raised serious allegations against the PFI and its arrested leaders, and claimed that the seized documents during the raids contain highly incriminating materials targeting prominent leaders of a particular community.

    In a remand report submitted before the court seeking custody of 10 accused in a case registered here, the agency also alleged that the radical Islamist outfit encouraged youths to join terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaida.

    In near simultaneous raids across the country, a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the NIA on September 22 led to the arrest of 106 activists of the Popular Front of India in 11 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials had said.

    The maximum number of arrests were made in Kerala (22) followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Tamil Nadu (10), Assam (9), Uttar Pradesh (8), Andhra Pradesh (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Puducherry and Delhi (3 each) and Rajasthan (2).

    KOCHI: A special court here on Saturday granted the National Investigation Agency the custody of 11 Popular Front of India (PFI) activists, who were arrested on September 22. The NIA special court granted the custody till September 30.

    The accused, who were taken to the court, raised slogans against the probe agency.

    However, a lawyer representing some of the accused said the court asked them to avoid sloganeering as it was ready to hear them.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has raised serious allegations against the PFI and its arrested leaders, and claimed that the seized documents during the raids contain highly incriminating materials targeting prominent leaders of a particular community.

    In a remand report submitted before the court seeking custody of 10 accused in a case registered here, the agency also alleged that the radical Islamist outfit encouraged youths to join terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba, Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaida.

    In near simultaneous raids across the country, a multi-agency operation spearheaded by the NIA on September 22 led to the arrest of 106 activists of the Popular Front of India in 11 states for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country, officials had said.

    The maximum number of arrests were made in Kerala (22) followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka (20 each), Tamil Nadu (10), Assam (9), Uttar Pradesh (8), Andhra Pradesh (5), Madhya Pradesh (4), Puducherry and Delhi (3 each) and Rajasthan (2).

  • PFI spreads ‘disaffection’ against India: NIA report

    The report, which was submitted on September 22, also claims that the outfit had conspired to establish Islamic rule in India by committing terrorist acts as a part of violent jihad.

  • NIA raids: Protests erupt around SDPI, PFI offices, several in preventive custody

    By PTI

    BENGALURU/MANGALURU/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI: Following the raids by the National Investigation Agency on Thursday at the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Popular Front of India (PFI) offices and the residences of the office-bearers, activists have been protesting across the country.

    In Kerala, activists of the PFI staged protests across the state against the recent raids by multi-agencies for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

    As the news of the early morning searches broke out, PFI workers took out marches to the places where the raids were carried out and raised slogans against the Centre and its investigating agencies. However, central forces were already deployed in all such places as part of strengthening security.

    ALSO READ | Amit Shah holds meet; discusses action against PFI, terror suspects

    Similarly, in Karnataka, many Muslim youths came near the places where the raid was going on and raised ‘NIA go back’ slogans. They also tried to hinder the ongoing raids. The police thwarted their attempt by taking them into preventive custody. In Bengaluru, the raids were carried out at Sampigehalli, Frazer Town and Richmond Town.

    In Tamil Nadu, at Cumbum in Theni district, a couple of locals who agitated against the apprehension of a PFI office-bearer by the NIA were detained by the police.

    At Karumbukadai in Coimbatore, a protest was held when the officials picked up a functionary. Police detained the protesters.

    Maharashtra raids

    In near-simultaneous raids the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested 20 activists of the PFI indulging in unlawful activities promoting enmity among communities and waging a war against the country, an official said.

    In Maharashtra, raids were conducted by various ATS teams in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Aurangabad, Pune, Kolhapur, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Malegaon (in Nashik district) and Jalgaon, an official said.

    The ATS teams arrested at least 20 people from various places and seized important documents, he said.

    The ATS has registered four offences in Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nanded under various Indian Penal Code Sections including 153-A (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the State) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), and provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), he said.

    The ATS officials were also making enquiries with some people in connection with these cases, he said.

    ‘Largest-ever’ raids

    A total of 106 PFI members arrested so far in multiple raids across 11 states including Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Karnataka (20), Kerala (22), MP (4), Maharashtra (20), Puducherry (3), Rajasthan (2), TN (10) & UP (8).

    The raids, taking place mainly in South India, was termed by the NIA as the “largest ever” investigation process “till date”.

    The NIA said the searches are taking place at the premises of people allegedly involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations.

    Details of the arrested activists were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of 11 states so far.

    BENGALURU/MANGALURU/THIRUVANANTHAPURAM/NEW DELHI: Following the raids by the National Investigation Agency on Thursday at the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and Popular Front of India (PFI) offices and the residences of the office-bearers, activists have been protesting across the country.

    In Kerala, activists of the PFI staged protests across the state against the recent raids by multi-agencies for allegedly supporting terror activities in the country.

    As the news of the early morning searches broke out, PFI workers took out marches to the places where the raids were carried out and raised slogans against the Centre and its investigating agencies. However, central forces were already deployed in all such places as part of strengthening security.

    ALSO READ | Amit Shah holds meet; discusses action against PFI, terror suspects

    Similarly, in Karnataka, many Muslim youths came near the places where the raid was going on and raised ‘NIA go back’ slogans. They also tried to hinder the ongoing raids. The police thwarted their attempt by taking them into preventive custody. In Bengaluru, the raids were carried out at Sampigehalli, Frazer Town and Richmond Town.

    In Tamil Nadu, at Cumbum in Theni district, a couple of locals who agitated against the apprehension of a PFI office-bearer by the NIA were detained by the police.

    At Karumbukadai in Coimbatore, a protest was held when the officials picked up a functionary. Police detained the protesters.

    Maharashtra raids

    In near-simultaneous raids the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested 20 activists of the PFI indulging in unlawful activities promoting enmity among communities and waging a war against the country, an official said.

    In Maharashtra, raids were conducted by various ATS teams in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Aurangabad, Pune, Kolhapur, Beed, Parbhani, Nanded, Malegaon (in Nashik district) and Jalgaon, an official said.

    The ATS teams arrested at least 20 people from various places and seized important documents, he said.

    The ATS has registered four offences in Mumbai, Nashik, Aurangabad and Nanded under various Indian Penal Code Sections including 153-A (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the State) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), and provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), he said.

    The ATS officials were also making enquiries with some people in connection with these cases, he said.

    ‘Largest-ever’ raids

    A total of 106 PFI members arrested so far in multiple raids across 11 states including Andhra Pradesh (5), Assam (9), Delhi (3), Karnataka (20), Kerala (22), MP (4), Maharashtra (20), Puducherry (3), Rajasthan (2), TN (10) & UP (8).

    The raids, taking place mainly in South India, was termed by the NIA as the “largest ever” investigation process “till date”.

    The NIA said the searches are taking place at the premises of people allegedly involved in terror funding, organising training camps, and radicalising people to join proscribed organisations.

    Details of the arrested activists were not available immediately, but officials said the arrests were done by the NIA, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the police forces of 11 states so far.

  • NIA announces Rs 25 lakh reward on fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency has announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for any information leading to the arrest of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, an official said on Thursday.

    The probe agency has also announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh on Ibrahim’s close aide Shakeel Shaikh alias Chhota Shakeel, and Rs 15 lakh each on associates Haji Anees alias Anees Ibrahim Shaikh, Javed Patel alias Javed Chikna and Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razzak Memon alias Tiger Memon, he said.

    All of them are wanted accused in the case of 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

    The official said the NIA has sought information about them which could lead to their arrest.

    The agency had in February registered a case against the ‘D company’.

    Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is designated a global terrorist by the United Nation runs an international terrorist network, namely D-Company, with his close associates like Anees Ibrahim Shaikh, Chhota Shakeel, Javed Chikhna and Tiger Memon, among others, the NIA said in a statement.

    They are involved in various terrorism-criminal activities such as arms smuggling, narco-terrorism, underworld criminal syndicate, money laundering, circulation of FICN, unauthorised possession/ acquisition of key assets for raising terror funds and working in active collaboration with international terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Al Qaeda (AQ), the statement said.

    MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency has announced a cash reward of Rs 25 lakh for any information leading to the arrest of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, a key accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, an official said on Thursday.

    The probe agency has also announced a cash reward of Rs 20 lakh on Ibrahim’s close aide Shakeel Shaikh alias Chhota Shakeel, and Rs 15 lakh each on associates Haji Anees alias Anees Ibrahim Shaikh, Javed Patel alias Javed Chikna and Ibrahim Mushtaq Abdul Razzak Memon alias Tiger Memon, he said.

    All of them are wanted accused in the case of 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

    The official said the NIA has sought information about them which could lead to their arrest.

    The agency had in February registered a case against the ‘D company’.

    Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is designated a global terrorist by the United Nation runs an international terrorist network, namely D-Company, with his close associates like Anees Ibrahim Shaikh, Chhota Shakeel, Javed Chikhna and Tiger Memon, among others, the NIA said in a statement.

    They are involved in various terrorism-criminal activities such as arms smuggling, narco-terrorism, underworld criminal syndicate, money laundering, circulation of FICN, unauthorised possession/ acquisition of key assets for raising terror funds and working in active collaboration with international terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Al Qaeda (AQ), the statement said.

  • ISIS member involved in funds collection arrested from Delhi

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an active ISIS member from here, an official said on Sunday, claiming the “radicalised” individual was collecting funds for the global terror group.

    Mohsin Ahmad, originally hailing from Patna in Bihar, was arrested from his Batla House residence by a search party on Saturday, a spokesperson of the federal anti-terror agency said.

    The spokesperson said the NIA conducted a search in the residential premises of the accused and subsequently arrested him in the case pertaining to ISIS’ online and on-ground activities.

    The NIA had registered the case suo-moto on June 25.

    “Ahmad is a radicalised and active member of ISIS. He has been arrested for his involvement in collection of funds for ISIS from sympathisers in India as well as abroad,” the spokesperson said, adding he was sending these funds to Syria and other places in the form of cryptocurrency in order to further ISIS’ activities.

    Further investigations in the case are in progress, the NIA said.

    On July 31, the anti-terror agency had carried out searches at 13 premises of suspected persons across six states — Bhopal and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Arariya in Bihar, Bhatkal and Tumkur City in Karnataka, Kolhapur and Nanded in Maharashtra and Deoband in Uttar Pradesh.

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested an active ISIS member from here, an official said on Sunday, claiming the “radicalised” individual was collecting funds for the global terror group.

    Mohsin Ahmad, originally hailing from Patna in Bihar, was arrested from his Batla House residence by a search party on Saturday, a spokesperson of the federal anti-terror agency said.

    The spokesperson said the NIA conducted a search in the residential premises of the accused and subsequently arrested him in the case pertaining to ISIS’ online and on-ground activities.

    The NIA had registered the case suo-moto on June 25.

    “Ahmad is a radicalised and active member of ISIS. He has been arrested for his involvement in collection of funds for ISIS from sympathisers in India as well as abroad,” the spokesperson said, adding he was sending these funds to Syria and other places in the form of cryptocurrency in order to further ISIS’ activities.

    Further investigations in the case are in progress, the NIA said.

    On July 31, the anti-terror agency had carried out searches at 13 premises of suspected persons across six states — Bhopal and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, Bharuch, Surat, Navsari and Ahmedabad in Gujarat, Arariya in Bihar, Bhatkal and Tumkur City in Karnataka, Kolhapur and Nanded in Maharashtra and Deoband in Uttar Pradesh.

  • Tailor killing: NIA arrests sixth accused

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday arrested a sixth person in connection with the killing of Kanhaiya Lal, a tailor, in Udaipur in Rajasthan and took him into custody till July 12, officials said.

    Wasim Ali, who ran a meat shop opposite the tailoring shop of Kanhaiya Lal, was picked by the federal agency Tuesday night and questioned for his alleged role in helping other accused carry out a recce of the area.

    He was placed under arrest on Wednesday and produced before a designated court which remanded him in the custody of the NIA till July 12.

    Elaborate security arrangements were made in the court premises for the production of the accused.

    “After hearing the matter, the court sent Wasim Ali to the NIA custody till July 12,” Special Public Prosecutor T P Sharma said.

    Lal was killed with a cleaver inside his tailoring shop on June 28.

    The gruesome attack by Riaz Akhtari on the tailor was recorded on a phone by Ghouse Mohammad, and it was posted online.

    They said in a video later that they hacked Lal to death to avenge an alleged insult to Islam. The duo were arrested within hours of the killing.

    Two other accused, identified as Mohsin and Asif, were arrested Thursday night for allegedly being involved in the conspiracy and recce of Kanhaiya Lal’s shop.

    The fifth accused, Mohammad Mohsin, was arrested on Monday and sent to police remand till July 12.

  • NIA takes custody of all accused in Amravati chemist’s murder, to be produced in Mumbai court by Friday

    By PTI

    AMRAVATI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken over custody of all the seven accused in the murder of Amravati-based chemist Umesh Kolhe, a police official said on Tuesday.

    The NIA took custody of all the accused, who were granted four days’ transit remand on Monday after they were produced before the Amravati court, he said.

    The accused are likely to be produced before the NIA’s Mumbai court on or before July 8, the official added.

    Amravati police had found inks between social media posts supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Umesh’s murder during the investigation and didn’t suppress the case as was alleged, police commissioner Arti Singh said on Monday.

    Police didn’t disclose the information earlier given the “very sensitive” nature of the murder case and to avoid any untoward incident, she said.

    The seven are Muddasar Ahmad (22), Shahrukh Pathan (25), Abdul Taufiq (24) Shoaib Khan (22), Atib Rashid (22) and Yusuf Khan (32) and alleged mastermind Shaikh Irfan Shaikh Rahim.

    Police are on the lookout for one more suspect Shamim Ahmed in connection with the case.

    Umesh was allegedly attacked with a knife by a group of three men between 10 pm and 10:30 pm on June 21.

    He died during treatment at the hospital.

    He had supported a post on social media in support of Nupur Sharma, who made a comment on Prophet Muhammad in a TV debate.