The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially filed a chargesheet against six individuals implicated in the Maharashtra ISIS terror module case. During its investigation, the NIA uncovered ties to a more extensive conspiracy with international connections, suggesting the involvement of a sophisticated network actively promoting ISIS ideology within India.
The accused have been charged before the NIA Special Court in Mumbai under various sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC). According to a spokesperson from the federal agency, these individuals were allegedly actively spreading the violent and extremist ideology of ISIS, engaging in acts preparatory to terrorist violence through recruiting individuals into the organization.
The six individuals named in the chargesheet are Tabish Nasser Siddiqui from Mumbai, Zulfikar Ali Barodawala alias “Lalabhai,” Sharjeel Shaikh, and Aakif Ateeque Nachan from Borivali-Padgha, and Zubair Noor Mohammad Shaikh alias “Abu Nusaiba” and Adnanali Sarkar from Pune.
The NIA spokesperson stated, “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 and terror among people and threaten the security of India, its secular ethos and culture, and the democratic system of governance.”
The arrests were made in July during multiple NIA raids in Maharashtra. The comprehensive 400-page chargesheet, filed in the court of Special NIA Judge A K Lahoti, incorporates statements from 16 protected witnesses.
In addition to the charges, the agency recovered incriminating material related to “Hijrah” (migration) to Syria from the accused and discovered propaganda magazines, such as “Voice of Hind” and “Voice of Khurasan,” published by 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 and designs,” added the official.
