Pune resident denied bail by special court in ISIS-related case

Mumbai: Observing that the material placed on record prima facie shows that the accused, Zubair Shaikh, and others conspired and engaged in activities in India threatening the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the country, a special court on Saturday rejected the bail plea of the 40-year-old Pune resident. He was arrested in 2023 on charges of promoting violent activities for the proscribed terror group, ISIS. The judge noted that a witness's statement showed he was also a member of a WhatsApp group named ‘Important'. Dr Adnan Ali Sarkar, a co-accused, was admin of the group, and other accused, including Zubair, were members."In the said group, this accused was sharing messages that were mostly against the nation and nationalism, which disturb communal harmony and spread hatred in society," the judge said, also mentioning that the NIA seized a 60-page printout of WhatsApp group ‘Important' communications. These communications allegedly reveal the accused and members spreading ISIS ideology and include numerous anti-national messages, suggesting that they were provoking Muslim youth to join ISIS. In Dec 2023, NIA submitted a chargesheet against six accused allegedly involved in recruitment and fundraising for the "global terrorist organisation." —Rebecca SamervelMumbai: Observing that the material placed on record prima facie shows that the accused, Zubair Shaikh, and others conspired and engaged in activities in India threatening the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the country, a special court on Saturday rejected the bail plea of the 40-year-old Pune resident. He was arrested in 2023 on charges of promoting violent activities for the proscribed terror group, ISIS. The judge noted that a witness's statement showed he was also a member of a WhatsApp group named ‘Important'. Dr Adnan Ali Sarkar, a co-accused, was admin of the group, and other accused, including Zubair, were members."In the said group, this accused was sharing messages that were mostly against the nation and nationalism, which disturb communal harmony and spread hatred in society," the judge said, also mentioning that the NIA seized a 60-page printout of WhatsApp group ‘Important' communications. These communications allegedly reveal the accused and members spreading ISIS ideology and include numerous anti-national messages, suggesting that they were provoking Muslim youth to join ISIS. In Dec 2023, NIA submitted a chargesheet against six accused allegedly involved in recruitment and fundraising for the "global terrorist organisation." —Rebecca Samervel