Threat calls to Nitin Gadkari: 2 convicted under UAPA, sentenced to 5-year in jail

NAGPUR: A special court in Nagpur on Friday convicted two persons of making ransom and bomb threat calls to Union minister Nitin Gadkari's office from a cell in Karnataka prison. The court invoked provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) while holding that the prosecution had sufficiently established the duo's involvement in the case.Additional Sessions Judge Anilkumar Sharma sentenced Jayesh Pujari alias Jayeshkant and Afsar Pasha alias Bashiruddin to multiple prison terms ranging from two to five years under various sections of the IPC and UAPA. All sentences will run concurrently.The case arose from a crime registered at Dhantoli police station in Nagpur city. As per investigators, the accused used multiple mobile phone numbers from Hindalga Central Prison in Belagavi to place threatening calls to Gadkari's office landline phone on two occasions in 2023, demanding ransom of Rs 100 crore and Rs 10 crore. The callers allegedly threatened to trigger bomb blasts and kill the minister if the money was not paid. During investigation, police recovered a SIM card from accused Pujari. The prosecution told the court that forensic examination and mobile verification panchnama revealed messages such as "Taliban Zindabad" on the devices. Investigators further said that the two had links with banned organisations, including Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).The prosecution relied on technical evidence, call detail records, electronic data, bank transactions, prison intelligence inputs and witness testimonies to establish that the two conducted threat calls, extortion attempts and financial transactions from inside prison premises using different mobile numbers.The prosecution examined 64 witnesses within one-and-a-half months and placed extensive technical and documentary evidence before the court.Under Section 387 of the IPC and Sections 13(1) and 18 of the UAPA, the court awarded five years' rigorous imprisonment and fines of ₹5,000 each. The accused were also sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment under other provisions, with additional imprisonment prescribed in case of default in payment of fines. The prosecution was led by special public prosecutor Vedika Patil, assisted by advocate LB Shendre. The investigation was conducted by a team including ACP Nilesh Palwe, PI Prabhavati Ekurke, PI Abhijit Patil, API Kopare, and PI Ritesh Aher.