News Analysis India

Tag: NIA

  • NIA team in Dubai to track D-company

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: A five-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in Dubai to investigate cases related to the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim and his cartel, better known as D-company, in running global terrorist networks and a transnational organised crime syndicate that involves smuggling and hawala extortion.

    The team is looking into various aspects of money laundering and terror funding by the D-Company, additional leads of which were picked up during over 150 pan-India raids in connection with terror funding and radicalisation in the last three months.

    The NIA trip also coincides with the recent visit of a high-level Indian finance team in February to firm up modalities to strengthen UAE-India trade ties. The probe agency had in November filed a chargesheet naming Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his associates for running a transnational organised crime syndicate that was funding terror networks through hawala, supplying drugs and arms and even generating funds through extortion.

    The chargesheet said they “raised, collected and extorted huge amounts of money by threatening and by putting person(s) in fear of death or grievous hurt, for the D-Company, for the benefit of an individual terrorist (Dawood Ibrahim) in the instant case, and with the intention to threaten the security of India and create terror in the minds of the general public.”

    The sleuths in Dubai would examine similar operating patterns of other drug-terror networks being run from Canada, Malaysia and elsewhere in North India, including in Punjab, Haryana and J&K.

    NEW DELHI: A five-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) is in Dubai to investigate cases related to the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim and his cartel, better known as D-company, in running global terrorist networks and a transnational organised crime syndicate that involves smuggling and hawala extortion.

    The team is looking into various aspects of money laundering and terror funding by the D-Company, additional leads of which were picked up during over 150 pan-India raids in connection with terror funding and radicalisation in the last three months.

    The NIA trip also coincides with the recent visit of a high-level Indian finance team in February to firm up modalities to strengthen UAE-India trade ties. The probe agency had in November filed a chargesheet naming Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his associates for running a transnational organised crime syndicate that was funding terror networks through hawala, supplying drugs and arms and even generating funds through extortion.

    The chargesheet said they “raised, collected and extorted huge amounts of money by threatening and by putting person(s) in fear of death or grievous hurt, for the D-Company, for the benefit of an individual terrorist (Dawood Ibrahim) in the instant case, and with the intention to threaten the security of India and create terror in the minds of the general public.”

    The sleuths in Dubai would examine similar operating patterns of other drug-terror networks being run from Canada, Malaysia and elsewhere in North India, including in Punjab, Haryana and J&K.

  • NIA team in Dubai to probe D-gang’s handiworks in terror-smuggling-hawala acts

    Express News Service

    A five-member team of the National Investigation Agency left for Dubai recently to investigate cases related to the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim and his cartel – better known as D-company, for running ‘global terrorist networks and transnational organised criminal syndicate that involves smuggling, hawala extortion.

    According to NIA sources, the team will look into various aspects of money laundering and terror funding angles involving the D-Company, the additional leads of which were picked up during more than 150 pan-India recent raids and arrests in connection with the matter of terror funding and radicalisation in the last three months.

    The NIA visit also coincides with the recent visit of a high-level Indian finance team in February to firm up modalities to strengthen UAE-India trade relationships that also included representation from the Reserve Bank of India.

    The NIA in November had filed a charge sheet naming absconders Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his associates for running terror networks and transnational organised criminal syndicate involving funding for terror networks through hawala, supplying drugs and arms and even generating funds through extortion.

    The recent Dubai trip of the NIA sleuths gathers significance amidst leads generated during the recent NIA raids and arrests across India in connection with funding for terror and radicalisation besides evidence in the form of digital devices, documents and other materials. Also, the NIA team would delve deep into similar operating patterns of other drug-terror networks being run in several states from Canada, Malaysia and other countries in north India including Punjab, Haryana and J&K among others.

    Besides Dawood, the other names mentioned in the chargesheet are members of the D-Company syndicate including Shakeel Shaikh alias Chhota Shakeel, Arif Abubakar Shaikh alias Arif Bhaijaan, Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh alias Shabbir and Mohammad Salim Qureshi alias Salim Fruit, involved in global criminal and terrorist activities including in India and running hawala and extortion activities as well. 

    According to the NIA sources the chargesheet states that “Investigations have established that the accused persons who are members of the D-Company, a terrorist gang and an organized crime syndicate, had conspired to further the criminal activities of the gang by carrying out various types of unlawful activities. In furtherance of the said conspiracy, they raised, collected and extorted huge amounts of money by threatening and by putting person(s) in fear of death or grievous hurt, for the D-Company, for the benefit of an individual terrorist (Dawood Ibrahim) in the instant case, and with the intention to threaten the security of India and create terror in the minds of the general public”. 

    The case was registered by the NIA team in Mumbai in March 2022 under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 and the Indian Penal Code. Shabir, Arif and Salim are in custody while Dawood and Shakeel who is an UN-designated international terrorists, are absconding from India.

    A five-member team of the National Investigation Agency left for Dubai recently to investigate cases related to the involvement of Dawood Ibrahim and his cartel – better known as D-company, for running ‘global terrorist networks and transnational organised criminal syndicate that involves smuggling, hawala extortion.

    According to NIA sources, the team will look into various aspects of money laundering and terror funding angles involving the D-Company, the additional leads of which were picked up during more than 150 pan-India recent raids and arrests in connection with the matter of terror funding and radicalisation in the last three months.

    The NIA visit also coincides with the recent visit of a high-level Indian finance team in February to firm up modalities to strengthen UAE-India trade relationships that also included representation from the Reserve Bank of India.

    The NIA in November had filed a charge sheet naming absconders Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his associates for running terror networks and transnational organised criminal syndicate involving funding for terror networks through hawala, supplying drugs and arms and even generating funds through extortion.

    The recent Dubai trip of the NIA sleuths gathers significance amidst leads generated during the recent NIA raids and arrests across India in connection with funding for terror and radicalisation besides evidence in the form of digital devices, documents and other materials. Also, the NIA team would delve deep into similar operating patterns of other drug-terror networks being run in several states from Canada, Malaysia and other countries in north India including Punjab, Haryana and J&K among others.

    Besides Dawood, the other names mentioned in the chargesheet are members of the D-Company syndicate including Shakeel Shaikh alias Chhota Shakeel, Arif Abubakar Shaikh alias Arif Bhaijaan, Shabbir Abubakar Shaikh alias Shabbir and Mohammad Salim Qureshi alias Salim Fruit, involved in global criminal and terrorist activities including in India and running hawala and extortion activities as well. 

    According to the NIA sources the chargesheet states that “Investigations have established that the accused persons who are members of the D-Company, a terrorist gang and an organized crime syndicate, had conspired to further the criminal activities of the gang by carrying out various types of unlawful activities. In furtherance of the said conspiracy, they raised, collected and extorted huge amounts of money by threatening and by putting person(s) in fear of death or grievous hurt, for the D-Company, for the benefit of an individual terrorist (Dawood Ibrahim) in the instant case, and with the intention to threaten the security of India and create terror in the minds of the general public”. 

    The case was registered by the NIA team in Mumbai in March 2022 under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the relevant sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 and the Indian Penal Code. Shabir, Arif and Salim are in custody while Dawood and Shakeel who is an UN-designated international terrorists, are absconding from India.

  • 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. 
     

  • Recruitment of young girls in Naxalite outfit: NIA files charge sheet

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A charge sheet has been filed by the NIA against five people in a case linked to the alleged radicalisation and recruitment of young girls in the banned Naxalite organisation CPI (Maoist).

    The agency said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed on Monday before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh.

    The case was initially filed by the Vishakhapatnam Police early this year and later re-registered by the NIA. It pertains to the recruitment of a young girl Radha in the CPI (Maoist) cadre.

    “The allegation in the (police) complaint indicated that accused Dongari Devendra, Dubasi Swapna and Chukka Shilpa motivated Radha to join the Chaitanya Mahila Sangham (CMS) and subsequently radicalised and recruited her in the proscribed organisation, CPI (Maoist), under the leadership of underground Maoists, RK (now deceased) Uday, Aruna etc,” an NIA spokesperson said.

    The probe found that Devendra had taken Radha to the forests under the pretext of rendering medical assistance to someone and that Uday and Aruna coerced her to join the banned organisation, the spokesperson said.

    The accused had recruited a few other girls in the CPI (Maoist) and had attempted to recruit many others, the NIA spokesperson said.

    Devendra, the spokesperson said, attracted “gullible” young girls to the CMS under the guise of social work The role of the CMS and other leaders of the organisation in the larger conspiracy is being probed into, the agency spokesperson said.

    NEW DELHI: A charge sheet has been filed by the NIA against five people in a case linked to the alleged radicalisation and recruitment of young girls in the banned Naxalite organisation CPI (Maoist).

    The agency said in a statement that the charge sheet was filed on Monday before a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh.

    The case was initially filed by the Vishakhapatnam Police early this year and later re-registered by the NIA. It pertains to the recruitment of a young girl Radha in the CPI (Maoist) cadre.

    “The allegation in the (police) complaint indicated that accused Dongari Devendra, Dubasi Swapna and Chukka Shilpa motivated Radha to join the Chaitanya Mahila Sangham (CMS) and subsequently radicalised and recruited her in the proscribed organisation, CPI (Maoist), under the leadership of underground Maoists, RK (now deceased) Uday, Aruna etc,” an NIA spokesperson said.

    The probe found that Devendra had taken Radha to the forests under the pretext of rendering medical assistance to someone and that Uday and Aruna coerced her to join the banned organisation, the spokesperson said.

    The accused had recruited a few other girls in the CPI (Maoist) and had attempted to recruit many others, the NIA spokesperson said.

    Devendra, the spokesperson said, attracted “gullible” young girls to the CMS under the guise of social work The role of the CMS and other leaders of the organisation in the larger conspiracy is being probed into, the agency spokesperson said.

  • NIA arrests main conspirator in 2021 Ludhiana court bomb blast from Delhi airport 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A most wanted terrorist and the main conspirator behind the Ludhiana court bomb blast was arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport here, an official of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Friday.

    Harpreet Singh alias ‘Happy Malaysia’, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, was arrested by the sleuths shortly after he arrived at the airport from Kuala Lumpur, the NIA spokesperson said.

    He was arrested in a case relating to the massive bomb blast in the Ludhiana Court Building in December last year, which left one person dead and six others injured.

    The case was initially registered on December 23, 2021, at Police Station Division-5, district Ludhiana Commissionerate, Punjab and re-registered by the NIA on January 13.

    “Investigations revealed that Singh, an associate of Pakistan-based self-styled Chief of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) Lakhbir Singh Rode, was one of the conspirators of the Ludhiana Court Building blast, along with Rode,” the spokesperson said.

    “Acting on the directions of Rode, he coordinated the delivery of the custom-made Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which had been sent from Pakistan to his India-based associates, that was used in the Ludhiana Court Complex blast,” the spokesperson added.

    The NIA said the arrested accused was also involved and wanted in various cases, including smuggling of explosives, arms and narcotics.

    Earlier, the NIA had declared a reward of Rs 10 lakhs on Singh against whom a Non-Bailable Warrant from the Special NIA court had been issued and Look Out Circular (LOC) was opened.

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

    NEW DELHI: A most wanted terrorist and the main conspirator behind the Ludhiana court bomb blast was arrested from Indira Gandhi International Airport here, an official of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Friday.

    Harpreet Singh alias ‘Happy Malaysia’, a resident of Amritsar in Punjab who was carrying a reward of Rs 10 lakh, was arrested by the sleuths shortly after he arrived at the airport from Kuala Lumpur, the NIA spokesperson said.

    He was arrested in a case relating to the massive bomb blast in the Ludhiana Court Building in December last year, which left one person dead and six others injured.

    The case was initially registered on December 23, 2021, at Police Station Division-5, district Ludhiana Commissionerate, Punjab and re-registered by the NIA on January 13.

    “Investigations revealed that Singh, an associate of Pakistan-based self-styled Chief of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) Lakhbir Singh Rode, was one of the conspirators of the Ludhiana Court Building blast, along with Rode,” the spokesperson said.

    “Acting on the directions of Rode, he coordinated the delivery of the custom-made Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which had been sent from Pakistan to his India-based associates, that was used in the Ludhiana Court Complex blast,” the spokesperson added.

    The NIA said the arrested accused was also involved and wanted in various cases, including smuggling of explosives, arms and narcotics.

    Earlier, the NIA had declared a reward of Rs 10 lakhs on Singh against whom a Non-Bailable Warrant from the Special NIA court had been issued and Look Out Circular (LOC) was opened.

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

  • Man with religious tattoo in hand found unfit for central forces, moves Delhi High Court

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A man who was declared unfit for recruitment by the Central Armed Police Forces, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other forces for having a “religious tattoo” on the dorsum of his right hand has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the authorities’ decision.

    The counsel for the authorities opposed the plea saying that the right arm is the saluting hand and this tattoo was not permissible under the relevant guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    The court, which was told by the petitioner that he was willing to remove the tattoo by minor laser surgery, noted the detailed medical examination and the review medical examination showed there were no other defects found in him.

    It disposed of the petition by giving liberty to the man to appear before the new medical board constituted by the authorities after the removal of the tattoo.

    “Keeping in view the aforesaid position as well as in the interest of justice, we hereby dispose of the present petition by giving liberty to the petitioner to appear before the freshly constituted medical board of the respondents after two weeks from today after having the tattoo in the dorsum of the right hand removed,” the court said.

    “In case the petitioner is found fit by the said medical board, the respondents shall further process the selection of petitioner for the post in question in accordance with the law,” a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Saurabh Banerjee said in its order.

    The petitioner submitted that he was found unfit in the detailed medical examination held on September 28 and thereafter, in review medical examination on September 29 for the post of constable (general duty) in Central Armed Police Forces, NIA, SSF and Rifleman GD in Assam Rifles Examination, 2021 on the ground that he has a religious tattoo marks on the dorsum of the right hand which was not permissible.

    He sought quashing of the results of the two examinations and that he be appointed to the post.

    NEW DELHI: A man who was declared unfit for recruitment by the Central Armed Police Forces, National Investigation Agency (NIA) and other forces for having a “religious tattoo” on the dorsum of his right hand has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the authorities’ decision.

    The counsel for the authorities opposed the plea saying that the right arm is the saluting hand and this tattoo was not permissible under the relevant guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

    The court, which was told by the petitioner that he was willing to remove the tattoo by minor laser surgery, noted the detailed medical examination and the review medical examination showed there were no other defects found in him.

    It disposed of the petition by giving liberty to the man to appear before the new medical board constituted by the authorities after the removal of the tattoo.

    “Keeping in view the aforesaid position as well as in the interest of justice, we hereby dispose of the present petition by giving liberty to the petitioner to appear before the freshly constituted medical board of the respondents after two weeks from today after having the tattoo in the dorsum of the right hand removed,” the court said.

    “In case the petitioner is found fit by the said medical board, the respondents shall further process the selection of petitioner for the post in question in accordance with the law,” a bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Saurabh Banerjee said in its order.

    The petitioner submitted that he was found unfit in the detailed medical examination held on September 28 and thereafter, in review medical examination on September 29 for the post of constable (general duty) in Central Armed Police Forces, NIA, SSF and Rifleman GD in Assam Rifles Examination, 2021 on the ground that he has a religious tattoo marks on the dorsum of the right hand which was not permissible.

    He sought quashing of the results of the two examinations and that he be appointed to the post.

  • Corrupt people are destroying the country, get away with corruption: SC

    Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Navlakha, submitted that medical reports show that his treatment inside the jail is not possible and his client had alarming weight loss.

  • NIA files charge sheet against six Babbar Khalsa International operatives in arms recovery case 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against six suspected terrorists of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case related to the seizure of arms and explosives from a vehicle in Haryana in May, an official said on Friday.

    The charge-sheeted accused included Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias “Rinda” of the proscribed terrorist organisation who has sent the weapons through drones into the Indian territory for executing terrorist acts in India, a spokesperson of the NIA said.

    The official said the case was initially registered on May 5 at Madhuban police station in Haryana under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act, and re-registered by the NIA on May 24, 2022.

    A pistol with two magazines and 31 rounds, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and Rs 1.30 lakh in cash were recovered from Gurpreet Singh alias “Gopi”, Amandeep Singh alias “Deepa”, Parminder Singh alias “Pinder” and Bhupinder Singh during a search of the vehicle, the spokesperson said.

    The NIA said they were going to deliver the consignment to Adilabad in Telangana by keeping it in a specially designed-cavity in their car.

    The four, along with Rinda and Rajboir Singh alias “Raja”, were charge-sheeted under sections 120(B), 121, 121A, 122 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 13, 17, 18, 18B, 20, 23,38 & 39 of the UAPA, Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act and Sections 4 & 5 the Explosive Substances Act, the spokesperson said.

    The official said Gurpreet, Amandeep, Parminder Singh, Bhopinder and Rajbir are residents of Punjab, while Rinda is a resident of Maharashtra.

    “During the investigation, it is revealed that the explosives, arms and ammunition were sent by Rinda of BKI from Pakistan through drones to his India-based associates for carrying out terrorist attacks at different parts of India,” the spokesperson said.

    NEW DELHI: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against six suspected terrorists of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) in a case related to the seizure of arms and explosives from a vehicle in Haryana in May, an official said on Friday.

    The charge-sheeted accused included Pakistan-based Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias “Rinda” of the proscribed terrorist organisation who has sent the weapons through drones into the Indian territory for executing terrorist acts in India, a spokesperson of the NIA said.

    The official said the case was initially registered on May 5 at Madhuban police station in Haryana under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Explosive Substances Act and the Arms Act, and re-registered by the NIA on May 24, 2022.

    A pistol with two magazines and 31 rounds, three improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and Rs 1.30 lakh in cash were recovered from Gurpreet Singh alias “Gopi”, Amandeep Singh alias “Deepa”, Parminder Singh alias “Pinder” and Bhupinder Singh during a search of the vehicle, the spokesperson said.

    The NIA said they were going to deliver the consignment to Adilabad in Telangana by keeping it in a specially designed-cavity in their car.

    The four, along with Rinda and Rajboir Singh alias “Raja”, were charge-sheeted under sections 120(B), 121, 121A, 122 of the Indian Penal Code, Sections 13, 17, 18, 18B, 20, 23,38 & 39 of the UAPA, Section 25 (1AA) of the Arms Act and Sections 4 & 5 the Explosive Substances Act, the spokesperson said.

    The official said Gurpreet, Amandeep, Parminder Singh, Bhopinder and Rajbir are residents of Punjab, while Rinda is a resident of Maharashtra.

    “During the investigation, it is revealed that the explosives, arms and ammunition were sent by Rinda of BKI from Pakistan through drones to his India-based associates for carrying out terrorist attacks at different parts of India,” the spokesperson said.

  • Elgar Parishad case: Bombay HC refuses bail to activist Jyoti Jagtap

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to activist Jyoti Jagtap, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, saying the National Investigation Agency’s case against her was “prima facie true”.

    The NIA had alleged that Jagtap was spreading activities of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) in urban areas and that she made efforts to mobilise Dalits at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, to protest against the government and to create hatred against it.

    A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and M N Jadhav dismissed the appeal filed by 34-year-old Jagtap, challenging a February 2022 order of a special court refusing to grant her bail.

    “We are of the opinion that the NIA case is prima facie true. Hence the appeal stands dismissed,” the court said.

    Jagtap, accused of singing and raising provocative slogans at the Elgar Parishad conclave along with other members of the Kabir Kala Manch, was arrested in the case in September 2020 and has been lodged at the Byculla women’s prison in Mumbai since then.

    According to the investigators, provocative speeches were allegedly made at the Elgar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017, triggering violence at Koregaon-Bhima in Maharashtra’s Pune district on January 1, 2018.

    The Pune police had claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The NIA later took over the probe into the case. According to the NIA, Kabir Kala Manch is a frontal group for the banned terror outfit CPI (Maoist).

    While Jagtap, a singer-cum-activist, claimed she was innocent and the NIA failed to establish any prima facie evidence against her, the agency said Jagtap had made efforts to mobilise Dalits at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, to protest against the government and to create hatred against it.

    The NIA had also alleged that Jagtap was spreading activities of the CPI (Maoist) in urban areas.

    The central probe agency had claimed Jagtap was an active member of the CPI (Maoist) and that she was spreading activities of the banned “terror group” in urban areas and had undergone training for using weapons and explosives.

    However, Jagtap argued that the Kabir Kala Manch was a cultural group which tried to bring communal harmony and secularism back into Indian society through music and poetry.

    Out of 16 people arrested in the case, Father Stan Swamy died at a private hospital here last year while in judicial custody.

    Two other accused – Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao – are out on bail, while the others are still in jail

    MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Monday refused to grant bail to activist Jyoti Jagtap, arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, saying the National Investigation Agency’s case against her was “prima facie true”.

    The NIA had alleged that Jagtap was spreading activities of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist) in urban areas and that she made efforts to mobilise Dalits at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, to protest against the government and to create hatred against it.

    A division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and M N Jadhav dismissed the appeal filed by 34-year-old Jagtap, challenging a February 2022 order of a special court refusing to grant her bail.

    “We are of the opinion that the NIA case is prima facie true. Hence the appeal stands dismissed,” the court said.

    Jagtap, accused of singing and raising provocative slogans at the Elgar Parishad conclave along with other members of the Kabir Kala Manch, was arrested in the case in September 2020 and has been lodged at the Byculla women’s prison in Mumbai since then.

    According to the investigators, provocative speeches were allegedly made at the Elgar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017, triggering violence at Koregaon-Bhima in Maharashtra’s Pune district on January 1, 2018.

    The Pune police had claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. The NIA later took over the probe into the case. According to the NIA, Kabir Kala Manch is a frontal group for the banned terror outfit CPI (Maoist).

    While Jagtap, a singer-cum-activist, claimed she was innocent and the NIA failed to establish any prima facie evidence against her, the agency said Jagtap had made efforts to mobilise Dalits at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, to protest against the government and to create hatred against it.

    The NIA had also alleged that Jagtap was spreading activities of the CPI (Maoist) in urban areas.

    The central probe agency had claimed Jagtap was an active member of the CPI (Maoist) and that she was spreading activities of the banned “terror group” in urban areas and had undergone training for using weapons and explosives.

    However, Jagtap argued that the Kabir Kala Manch was a cultural group which tried to bring communal harmony and secularism back into Indian society through music and poetry.

    Out of 16 people arrested in the case, Father Stan Swamy died at a private hospital here last year while in judicial custody.

    Two other accused – Sudha Bharadwaj and Varavara Rao – are out on bail, while the others are still in jail

  • 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).