Maharashtra ISIS terror module case: NIA files chargesheet against 6 accused
Pune: NIA Court Sentences 5 to Imprisonment in ISIS and ISKP Terror Conspiracy Case
Tightening its noose further around the ISIS terror conspiracy in India, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a chargesheet against six persons involved in recruitment and fund-raising for the global terrorist organization.
As per further information from the X handle of NIA India, NIA investigations so far in the Maharashtra ISIS Terror Module case (NIA RC-02/2023/NIA/MUM) have revealed a larger conspiracy with international linkages and the involvement of foreign-based ISIS handlers. The investigations have also exposed a complex network of individuals committed to propagating the extremist & violent ideology of ISIS within India.
The accused have been identified as Tabish Nasser Siddiqui of Mumbai, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala @ Lalabhai, Sharjeel Shaikh and Aakif Ateeque Nachan of Borivali-Padgha, as well as Zubair Noor Mohammad Shaikh @ Abu Nusaiba and Dr Adnanali Sarkar of Pune. They are all members of the proscribed ISIS outfit and had hatched a conspiracy to further the terrorist activities of the organization, with the intention to strike fear & terror amongst the people and threaten the security of India, its secular ethos & culture and the democratic system of governance.
Two of these accused, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala and Aakif Ateeque Nachan, were earlier also charge-sheeted in the Pune ISIS module case for fabrication of IEDs for triggering blasts.
The accused, chargesheeted before the NIA Special Court, Mumbai, under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, were engaged in actively propagating the violent & extremist ideology of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and in carrying out acts preparatory to terrorist violence through recruitment of individuals to the organization and its cause. Two accused, Tabish and Zulfikar, had taken an oath of allegiance (Bayath) to the self-styled Khalifa (leader) of the ISIS.
The NIA Mumbai Branch also found the accused in possession of incriminating material related to Hijrah to Syria, along with propaganda magazines like ‘Voice of Hind’ and ‘Voice of Khurasan’ published by the ISIS. Further, the accused had been sharing DIY (Do It Yourself) kits with their contacts. The accused were also found to be raising funds to finance their terror plans & designs, as per NIA investigations.
The case was registered by NIA Mumbai on June 28, 2023, against Tabish Nasser Siddiqui and others, following information received by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding a conspiracy hatched by them to disturb the unity, integrity, security and sovereignty of the country, and to wage a war against the Government of India by promoting the terrorist activities of ISIS. Further investigations in the case are continuing by the provisions of section 173(8) of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).
It may be noted that ISIS, also known by the names Islamic State (IS) / Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) / Daish/ Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) / ISIS Wilayat Khorasan Islamic State of Iraq and Sham Khorasan (ISIS-K), has been operating through various modules to spread terror across India.
