News Analysis India

Tag: NIA

  • Ambani security threat case: NIA arrests Mumbai cop Sachin Vaze after 12-hour of quizzing

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested Mumbai Police officer Sachin Waze Saturday night after questioning him for 12 hours over the recovery of an explosive-laden vehicle near the residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, an agency spokesperson said.

    Waze was summoned at the agency’s Mumbai office at Cumballa Hill in south Mumbai around 11.30 am to record his statement.

    There was no official update on him throughout the day.

    The NIA spokesperson came out with a brief statement late Saturday night that he had been “arrested at 23.

    50 hrs in NIA Case” related to the recovery of gelatin sticks in a vehicle parked near Ambani’s house on Carmichael Road on February 25.

    A threat letter was found as well.

    The NIA spokesperson said Waze has been arrested allegedly “for his role and involvement in placing explosives-laden vehicle near Carmichael road” on February 25.

    ALSO READ: IM terrorist questioned for 4 hours in Tihar Jail on mobile phone recovery

    The case was handed over to the NIA after the mysterious death of a Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran, who had claimed that the vehicle had been stolen a week earlier.

    His body was found in a creek at Thane on March 5.

    This case is being probed by the Anti-Terror Squad of the Maharashtra Police, but the NIA is likely to take over the case as the agency is mandated by the section 8 of the NIA Act to take over investigation in connected matters.

    Hiran’s wife had claimed that her husband had given the SUV to Waze in November, which the officer returned in the first week of February.

    During his questioning by the ATS, Waze had denied using the SUV that was in possession of Hiran.

    Waze had on Friday filed an application seeking pre-arrest bail.

    His lawyer A M Kalekar had requested the court to grant Waze interim protection from arrest on the ground that he was cooperating in the investigation.

    ALSO READ: Vaze is not Osama Bin Laden, wait till probe is over, says Maharastra CM Uddhav Thackeray

    Additional public prosecutor Vivek Kadu, however, opposed this and argued that the probe in the case was at a crucial stage.

    The court, while refusing interim bail, noted that the charges in the case include section 302 (murder), section 201 (destruction of evidence) and 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC which are serious offences.

    Waze, accused by Hiran’s wife of involvement in her husband’s suspicious death, was shunted out of the Mumbai crime branch on Wednesday.

    Waze, who was the crime branch’s Assistant Police Inspector, has been transferred to the Citizen Facilitation Centre (CFC) unit of Mumbai police.

    On February 25, a Scorpio was found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house in south Mumbai with explosives and a threat letter inside.

    While recording Waze’s statement on Saturday, the NIA called crime branch ACP Nitin Alaknure and ATS’ ACP Shripad Kale to share information about the investigation done so far in the cases of recovery of the SUV and the alleged murder of Hiran.

    Both the officers left after four hours.

    Waze is also facing a trial on multiple charges, including murder and destruction of evidence, for the alleged custodial death of Khwaja Yunus in the year 2003.

  • Something fishy: Uddhav Thackeray on NIA taking over Ambani bomb threat probe

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday said the NIA taking over the case of a vehicle laden with explosives being found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in Mumbai suggests something was “fishy”.

    Talking to reporters here, Thackeray said governments come and go, but the official administrative machinery remains the same and one needs to trust it.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the case following orders from the Ministry of Home Affairs, an official spokesperson said on Monday.

    The agency is in the process of re-registering the case, the spokesperson added.

    On Sunday, the Maharashtra Anti-terrorism Squad (ATS) registered the FIR against unidentified persons on the order of the state home department under IPC Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120(b) (criminal conspiracy).

    ALSO READ | NIA takes over case of explosives-laden vehicle found near Ambani residence

    Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said in the Assembly on Monday that state police were capable of solving the case of auto parts dealer Mansukh Hiran’s death and the recovery of the explosives-laden car near Ambani’s residence.

    Hiran, the purported owner of the vehicle, was found dead in a creek in neighbouring Thane on Friday.

    Thackeray said, “We had handed over the case of the vehicle laden with explosives and the mysterious death of Mansukh Hiran to the ATS. The NIA taking over the case shows something was fishy.”

    The ATS will continue to conduct its probe into Hiran’s death, the CM said.

    He said the opposition does not have faith in the state machinery and wanted to show it doesn’t function.

    “If that is so, why is it demanding that the state government reduce taxes on fuel?” the chief minister asked. Thackeray also said the state police will conduct probe into the alleged suicide of Lok Sabha member Mohan Delkarand punish the guilty.

    Delkar (58), a seven-term MP from the Dadra and Nagar Haveli Union Territory, was found dead at a hotel on Marine Drive in south Mumbai on February 22.

    “A Union Territory is governed by the Centre. We will take the case to its logical end. I wonder how the opposition here is quiet on the issue of the seven-term MP ending his life,” Thackeray said.

  • 2014 killing of Assam Police top cop: NIA files chargesheet against 3 bodo terrorists

    By ANI
    GUWAHATI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday filed a chargesheet before the Special NIA Court here against three bodo terrorists in connection with the killing of former Additional Superintendent of Police Gulzar Hussain in 2014.

    In a statement, the NIA said that the chargesheet against three accused — namely Bishnu Narzary alias Berama, Nitul Daimary alias Naihab and Runiluish Diamary alias Monthai – has been filed under Sections 16, 18, 20 of Unlawful Activities (P) Act, Sections 34, 120B, 302, 307 and 326 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 27 of the Arms Act.

    The case was initially registered at Dhekiajuli Police Station, Assam, District Sonitpur on January 28, 2014, relating to an ambush that resulted in the death of Hussain, then Additional, Superintendent of Police, Sonitpur and a civilian Anlark Basumatary, and injuries to several other police personnel.

    “The investigation of the case has revealed that the members of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB-S) had laid the ambush which resulted in the death of the then ASP, Sonitpur District and one civilian, besides injuring several police personnel,” NIA said.

    Two of the chargesheeted accused in the instant case — Bishnu Narzary and Nitul Daimary — have also been convicted in another case wherein Bishnu has been given the death sentence and Nitul has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

    “Two other NDFB cadres viz. Kham Daimary alias Lotham and Junu Basumatary alias B Sijou alias Sijou, who were involved in the crime, have been already killed in separate encounters with security forces,” the NIA statement added.

    Further investigation is underway. 

  • CCTVs in offices of probe agencies: SC expresses displeasure, says Centre dragging its feet

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Tuesday expressed displeasure over the Centre for “dragging its feet” by seeking more time on the issue pertaining to installation of CCTV cameras in the offices of investigating agencies including CBI, ED and NIA.

    A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman, which observed that this issue concerns the rights of citizens, said it is not accepting the excuses given in the letter filed by the Centre seeking adjournment in the matter.

    “We are getting a distinct impression that you are dragging your feet,” the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Hrishikesh Roy, told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who was representing the Centre.

    The apex court had on December 2 last year directed the Centre to install CCTV cameras and recording equipment at the offices of investigating agencies — the Central Bureau of Investigation, National Investigation Agency, Enforcement Directorate, Narcotics Control Bureau, Department of Revenue Intelligence, Serious Fraud Investigation Office and any other agency which carries out interrogations and has the power of arrest.

    During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing on Tuesday, Mehta told the bench that adjournment has been sought as the matter may have ramifications.

    “This concerns the rights of citizens,” the bench said, adding, “We are not accepting the excuses”.

    “We are not concerned about the ramifications,” the bench said.

    The top court asked Mehta about the allocation of funds for installation of CCTVs in the offices of these investigating agencies.

    Mehta sought some time from the bench to file an affidavit in the matter.

    The apex court granted three week time to the Centre to file an affidavit on the issue, including on the aspect of allocation of funds and the timeline for installation of CCTV cameras.

    The bench also examined the report placed before it by senior advocate Siddharth Dave, who is assisting it as an amicus curiae in the matter, on the timeline of different states to comply with the court’s direction.

    In its last year order, the apex court had said that states and Union Territories (UTs) should ensure that CCTV cameras are installed at each and every police station, at all entry and exit points, main gate, lock-ups, corridors, lobby and reception as also areas outside the lock-up rooms so that no part is left uncovered.

    The top court had earlier ordered installation of CCTV cameras in police stations to check human rights abuses.

    It had said that it had impleaded all the states and UTs in the matter to find out the exact position of CCTV cameras in each police station as well as constitution of Oversight Committees in accordance with the April 3, 2018 order.

    The apex court, while dealing with a matter related to custodial torture, had in July last year taken note of a 2017 case in which it had ordered installation of CCTV cameras in all the police stations to check human rights abuses, videography of crime scene and setting up of a Central Oversight Committee and such a panel in every states and UT.

    It had said that authorities would implement its order “both in letter and in spirit as soon as possible.”

    The bench had said in its December last year order that affidavits be filed within six weeks by principal secretary or cabinet secretary or home secretary of each states and UTs giving a firm action plan with exact timeline for compliance with the order.

  • NIA files chargesheet against 11 Al Qaeda members

    By Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday chargesheeted 11 terrorists of al Qaeda who were planning to execute several terror attacks in the country on the instructions of their Pakistan- and Bangladesh-based handlers. 

    The “nefarious plans” of the terrorists were obviated by their “timely arrest”, the anti-terror agency said, adding that the accused were planning to attack among others, an India-based Bangladeshi blogger.Murshid Hasan, Mosaraf Hoseen, Mainul Mandal, Lea Yean Ahmed, Najmus Sakib, Iyakub Biswas, Samim Ansari, Abu Sufian, Atiur Rahman, Al Mamun Kamal and Abdul Momin Mandal have been named in the charge sheet under sections of the IPC, the UAPA and the Arms Act, NIA officials said.

    The case was registered by the NIA based on information about an al Qaeda-inspired module sprouting and operating in Bengal and Kerala under the leadership of Hasan.  The members of this module were in advanced stage of conspiracy to execute terrorist attacks in different parts of the country, NIA officials said.

    During raids in various parts of Bengal and Kerala on September 19, the agency arrested nine terrorists. Subsequently, two more terror operatives were arrested from Bengal on August 26 and November 1 last year.

    Hasan was in touch with al Qaeda handlers based in Pakistan and Bangladesh and had received instructions along with radical propaganda material through encrypted social media platforms from them, an NIA spokesperson said. Hasan along with his other associates conspired to radicalise and recruit more individuals into al Qaeda. 

    Gujarat resident charge-sheeted for espionageThe National Investigation Agency has filed a supplementary charge sheet against Gujarat resident Rajakbhai Kumbhar, an alleged agent of Pakistan’s spy agency ISI, NIA officials said on Friday. Kumbhar, who was arrested on September 30 last year, had visited Pakistan twice on legal documents and during his return in the course of second visit, he had come in contact with ISI operatives Hamid and joined the conspiracy with the co-accused, NIA said. The charge sheet against was filed on Thursday under sections of the IPC and the stringent UAPA.

  • NIA files chargesheet against two LeT terrorists for conspiracy to wage war against India

    By PTI
    BENGALURU: The NIA filed a supplementary chargesheet before a special court here on Monday against two terrorists of Pakistan-based terror group LeT for their alleged involvement in a conspiracy to commit subversive activities and wage a war against India, besides killing key personalities of the Hindu community in the country, an official said.

    The chargesheet was filed against Dr Sabeel Ahmed of Bengaluru and Asadulla Khan of Hyderabad under sections of the India Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a spokesperson of the country’s premier investigation agency said.

    The case, initially registered in August 2012 in Bengaluru, pertains to a conspiracy hatched by members of proscribed terror organisations Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami (HuJI) to commit subversive activities and wage a war against the government of India, the NIA official said.

    They had procured illegal arms and ammunition for targeted killings of important personalities of the Hindu community in Karnataka’s Bengaluru and Hubli, Maharashtra’s Nanded and Telangana’s Hyderabad to disturb communal harmony and strike terror in the society, the official said.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) re-registered the case in November 2012 and has filed chargesheets against 17 accused.

    LeT members Ahmed and Khan were involved in a criminal conspiracy, along with other accused, in supporting and furthering the cause of the terror outfit in Saudi Arabia’s Dammam and Riyadh, the NIA spokesperson said.

    They actively participated in meetings, where terrorist activities like targeted killings of important personalities of the Hindu community in Bengaluru, Hubli and Nanded were planned, the official added.

    The special NIA court in Bengaluru convicted 13 accused in the case in September 2016 and sentenced them to five years of imprisonment for their involvement in offences under the UAPA, IPC, Arms Act and Official Secrets Act.

    A trial is continuing against three accused who were named in an earlier chargesheet, the NIA official said, adding that further investigation against six absconding accused is underway.

  • Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar calls for NIA probe into blast that injured minister Jakir Hossain

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday called for an NIA investigation into the blast that grievously injured state minister Jakir Hossain and several others at a railway station in Murshidabad.

    Condemning the incident, the governor, who visited the minister of state for labour at a hospital here in the evening, said that a “very expert investigation” is required into the incident.

    “I am sure the possibility of an investigation by National Investigating Agency (NIA) that has the requisite expertise to go into the matter will be involved by process of law,” Dhankhar told reporters.

    Describing the incident as most unfortunate and atrocious, he said that it is a reminder that violence is not a solution and has no place in society.

    “Such kind of incidents are a shame on our society, I understand the state government has formed SIT,” he said, maintaining that the rise in violence in recent days in West Bengal is a cause of concern.

    Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met the governor at Raj Bhavan for more than an hour in the evening.

    Dhankhar said that they discussed issues connected to governance “so that we have wholesome scenario emerging in the state”.

  • Burdwan blast case: NIA court sentences top Bangladeshi terrorist to 29 years in jail

    By PTI
    KOLKATA: A special NIA court here on Wednesday sentenced the India head of Bangladesh-based terrorist organisation Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen (JMB) to 29 years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 35,000 for his involvement in the 2014 Burdwan blast case.

    Kausar, a resident of Bangladesh’s Maymansingh division, was convicted by the court under sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Arms Act and the Foreigners Act.

    He is also a charge-sheeted accused in another NIA case relating to Bihar’s Bodh Gaya Blast which took place in January 2018.

    On October 2, 2014, a powerful bomb blast took place at the first floor of a rented house in the busy Khagragarh locality of West Bengal’s Burdwan district.

    An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) had accidentally gone off at the time of its fabrication by the members of the JMB.

    Two terrorists had succumbed to injuries.

    The case was initially registered by the West Bengal Police and it was subsequently taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on October 10, 2014.

    The NIA investigation revealed a conspiracy by the JMB to radicalise, recruit and provide training in arms and explosives to its members in India for committing terrorist acts and waging war against the democratically-established governments of India and Bangladesh.

    A large number of IEDs, explosives, hand grenades, training videos were recovered.

    A total of 33 accused were charge sheeted by the NIA for the commission of various offences in the case.

    Out of the 33 accused, 31 have been arrested.

    Earlier, 30 accused were convicted and sentenced to various terms by the NIA special court, Kolkata.

    The trial against the remaining two absconding charge-sheeted accused continues.

  • Jharkhand: NIA unearths high-grade explosives CPI (Maoist) planned to use against security forces

    By PTI
    RANCHI: The NIA Wednesday carried out searches in the dense forests of Jharkhand’s Khunti district and recovered high-grade explosives which the outlawed CPI (Maoist) planned to target security forces, an official said.

    The searches were conducted in the Korangburu hillock at Jilingkel at the instance of arrested armed CPI (Maoist) cadre Naina.

    During the early morning operation, 100 metres of Cordtex wire (a type of detonating cord) and high-grade explosive — 126 Gelatin sticks, weighing about 15 kgs — were recovered, an NIA spokesperson said.

    Naina was arrested in connection with the killing of five police personnel in an attack by CPI (Maoist) in June, 2019 at Kukru Haat in Saraikela-Kherswan district.

    Their arms and ammunitions were also looted.

    The Jharkhand Police had arrested 11 accused and filed two charge-sheets against them.

    The NIA re-registered the case in December last year and arrested five more armed cadres of CPI (Maoist).

    During Naina’s questioning, it was revealed that explosives procured by the CPI (Maoist) were hidden at the Korangburu hillock, the NIA spokesperson said.

    An NIA team, with the help of local police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), conducted the searches in the early hours and recovered Cordtex wire and 126 Gelatin sticks, the official said.

    The explosives were planned to be used against the security forces by the CPI (Maoist), the NIA official said, adding that further investigation was underway.

  • Bombay HC reserves verdict on NIA challenge to bail for alleged ex-ISIS member Areeb Majeed

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict on an appeal filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) challenging the bail granted to alleged former ISIS member Areeb Majeed.

    During the arguments, a division bench of Justices SS Shinde and Manish Pitale observed that if Majeed had utilized his abilities in a different way instead of heading for war-torn Syria, it would have been a matter of joy to his family as well the country.

    The NIA has alleged that Majeed travelled to Syria to join the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and later returned to India to carry out terror activities. He was arrested in November 2014 under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

    In March 2020, he was granted bail by a special NIA court. Opposing the NIA’s appeal, Majeed claimed that he had gone to Syria only “to help people”, and denied the central agency’s allegations. The judges then asked why a 21-year-old would even think of going to Iraq and Syria.

    “Why would a 21-year-old go to Iraq for people who he has never met in his life by leaving his family behind? Don’t you have enough suffering around you,” the bench asked.

    Before reserving its order, the HC asked Majeed what would he do if he continues to be out on bail. Majeed said he would get a degree in law. “If you had utilized your abilities to the best at the age of 21 it would have been a matter of joy for the family and for the country,” Justice Pitale stated.