The Allahabad High Court in the case Mohd. Moeed vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home observed and has granted bail to an alleged al-Qaeda terrorist, who was being arrested in the year 2021 in connection with a conspiracy to carry out a pressure cooker bombing in Lucknow.
The court observed that earlier the bail application was dismissed by the special NIA court.
The bench headed by Justice Attau Rahman Masood and Justice Saroj Yadav in the case observed and has passed the order wherein the bail plea moved by the accused Mohd. Moeed.
However, the High Court granted bail to two co-accused in view of the gravity of their unblemished past antecedent and the gravity of the offences for which the trial is being framed in the case.
Further, the ATS in the month of July 2021 arrested two terrorists, wherein belonging to Operation Ansar Gajwatul Hind organization from Lucknow named Minhaj and Bashiruddin on the allegation that they hatched a conspiracy for carrying out a pressure cooker bomb attack in Lucknow on 15.08.2021. Therefore, the case was then taken over by the NIA.
The court observed that as per the case of NIA’s which being against them, Minhaj Ahmad was radicalized online by two Al Qaida terrorists based in Jammu and Kashmir. Thus, Minhaj Ahmad entered into a conspiracy with the other accused persons wherein further recruiting members for Al-Qaeda affiliate AGH (Ansaar Gajwatul Hind) and for committing of the terrorist acts.
The court stated that the three accused named, Mohd. Mustaqeem and Mohammad Moid aided and abetted Minhaj and Museeruddin in procuring weapons and ammunition and for becoming a party in furtherance of the conspiracy.
In the said case the charge sheet was submitted before the special court and on examination of the entire material which is collected during the course of the investigation. Further, charges were framed against them under Section 120B of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 25 (1B)(a) Arms Act.
The counsel, Aarif Ali, Furkan Pathan appeared for the petitioner.
The counsel, Shikha Sinha represented the respondent.