Special Court in Delhi denies bail to suspected ISIS terrorists

New Delhi: The six suspected ISIS operatives, arrested by National Investigative Agency (NIA) and the Special Cell of Delhi Police, were denied bail by the Special Court in Delhi on Friday.

During in-camera proceedings, District Judge Amarnath denied relief to the accused and further extended their judicial custody, said official sources.

About the accused:

• Accused Mohd Azeemusan, Mohd Osama, Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Meeraj, Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed and Mudabbir Shaikh were nabbed in a nationwide raid conducted in various cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Aurangabad, for allegedly promoting activities and ideologies of the banned terror outfit ISIS and luring the youths to join it.
• These members were involved in activities of spreading ISIS ideologies using internet-based communications like Facebook, Skype and other platforms to lure youths to join the terrorist organisation, it had claimed.

The bail plea:

• Advocate MS Khan, who appeared on behalf of the accused people, said, "Period of investigation was extended by this court on June 10 till July 8 and the same has expired today. Neither the charge sheet has been filed nor the period of investigation been extended. Hence the indefeasible right to statutory bail arises and the applicant-accused have become entitled to be released on bail."

• The NIA, however, opposed the counsel's contention and submitted that the period of probe was extended earlier and the investigative agency had taken custody of the accused, in order to unearth larger conspiracy of the ISIS.

Backgrounder:

• The Special Cell of Delhi Police had registered an FIR against these accused, in January last, under the sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code (IPC).
• The home ministry later transferred the case to the NIA and a fresh FIR was registered against them.