Latest news with #Sydeek
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Law student suspended for 6 months for links with suspected Urban Naxal
Nagpur: A final-year law student with an elite Nagpur law school has been suspended for six months after she was allegedly found in a hotel room with suspected Urban Naxal Rejas Sydeek, recently arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Her writ petition in the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, challenging the suspension, was withdrawn on Tuesday after Justice Pravind Patil refused interim relief. The high court noted that the university's campus disciplinary committee had completed its inquiry on May 22 and promptly informed the student the next day. "Since the petitioner has opted to pursue the statutory appeal, the writ petition is permitted to be withdrawn to prosecute the appeal before the competent authority," Justice Patil observed while disposing of the matter. Represented by Advocate Raju Kadu, the student argued her suspension during the ongoing semester examinations was academic prejudice and the university had violated principles of natural justice under its code of conduct. However, university counsel Kuldeep Mahalle countered that the disciplinary inquiry was conducted fairly and adhered to procedural safeguards. Additional government pleader Sangeeta Jachak, appearing for the state on behalf of Lakadganj Police, said the matter was purely administrative and opposed any relief. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The student had been suspended on May 10, debarred from academic and non-academic activities, after reportedly failing to provide satisfactory answers about her presence with Sydeek, who is currently in the custody of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. The university also cited her social media activity, including a post that appeared to challenge the govt stance on Operation Sindoor. During an earlier hearing on May 17, Justice Rohit Joshi had declined interim relief, observing the suspension was an administrative measure and judicial intervention was not warranted at that stage. The high court took on record the university's communication dated May 23, outlining the decision to suspend the student. Advocate Kadu did not dispute that the inquiry had concluded and confirmed the student had filed a statutory appeal under the varsity's redressal of grievances rules. At the last hearing, the law school informed the court that if the student's appeal succeeded, she would be permitted to take special examinations before results were announced early July. Sydeek, with whom the student was allegedly found, is under investigation for suspected anti-national activities and conspiracy to wage war against the country. Sources said Sydeek was tracked to a Nagpur hotel, following an intelligence alert, prompting scrutiny of the student's activities and associations. KEY TAKEAWAYS OF HC RULING: University disciplinary committee completed inquiry on May 22, 2025, and informed the student the next day. Recorded that the petitioner chose to pursue a statutory appeal under Clause 5.2 of the university's redressal rules. Refused to stay the six-month suspension, terming it an administrative action beyond judicial interference at this stage. Said the petitioner could withdraw her writ petition and pursue the appeal
India Today
20-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Kerala activist held for terror charges was active on dark web: ATS Officials
A student activist and self-described independent journalist from Kerala arrested earlier this month under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita for allegedly preparing to wage war against the country was active on the dark web, an official from the Nagpur unit of the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) said on M Sheeba Sydeek, aged 26, was arrested by Lakadganj police on May 7, from a hotel in Nagpur, Maharashtra, after his online activities were placed under surveillance. Sydeek had made social media posts on Instagram condemning Operation Sindoor, the recent strike by Indian Armed Forces on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and also criticised counterinsurgency operations against house in Kerala's Ernakulam district was later raided on May 11, resulting in the seizure of incriminating documents, the official added.'A preliminary scan of the digital devices belonging to him has revealed he was active on the dark web and was making inflammatory comments and posting his ideas. The Anti Terrorism Squad will send the digital devices to the cyber-forensic laboratory for in-depth investigation,' the official dark web refers to a part of the internet not indexed by standard search engines, accessible only through specific software. It offers a high degree of anonymity to users and is frequently associated with illicit activities, including drug trafficking and data official further said that a local court extended Sydeek's police custody by two days on Sunday. His online activity reportedly included provocative posts and an image in which he was holding a firearm after visiting a rifle shop in Nagpur. He was initially booked under sections 149 (preparing to wage war against the Government of India), 192 (provocation with intent to cause riots), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 353 (statements conducive to public mischief) of the Bharatiya Nyaya further investigation, sections 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, pertaining to membership of a terrorist organisation and providing support to such groups, were added to the case, which was subsequently transferred from Lakadganj police to the ATS. IN THIS STORY#Kerala
The Print
19-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Arrested student activist-scribe was using dark web for anti-national activities: Maharashtra ATS
Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek (26) was arrested by Lakadganj police on May 7 from a hotel here after his online activities were placed under surveillance. The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by standard search engines and can only be accessed through specific software. It provides users with anonymity and is often associated with illegal activities, including drug trafficking and data breaches. Nagpur, May 19 (PTI) The student activist-cum-journalist arrested earlier this month in Nagpur was allegedly using the dark web to post inflammatory comments and for other anti-national activities, a Maharashtra ATS official said on Monday. He has been booked under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions for allegedly preparing to wage war against the country and supporting terror outfits, the official from the Nagpur unit of ATS said. 'His house in Kerala was raided on May 11, which led to recovery of incriminating documents. A preliminary scan of the digital devices belonging to him showed he was active on the dark web. He was making inflammatory comments and posting his ideas,' he said. The Anti Terrorism Squad will send the digital devices to the cyber-forensic laboratory for in-depth investigation, the official added. The official also said Sydeek's police custody was extended by two days by a local court on Sunday. His online activities include provocative posts and an image showing him holding a firearm after a visit to a rifle shop here, following which he was booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 149 (preparing to wage war against the Government of India), 192 (provocation with intent to cause riots), 351 (criminal intimidation) and 353 (statements conducive to public mischief). After a probe, sections 38 and 39 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act dealing with membership of terrorist organisation and providing support to such outfits were added in the case, which was then transferred from Lakadganj police to ATS, he said. PTI COR BNM This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ATS Gets 2-Day Custody of Kerala Maoist, Probes Pan-India Links
Nagpur: The Nagpur Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) intensified investigation into the activities of Rejaz B Sheeba Sydeek, an alleged urban Maoist cadre from Kerala, after securing his custody until May 20. The ATS took Sydeek's custody from Lakadganj police on Sunday and produced him before a local court, which granted two-day remand despite the agency's request for a seven-day period. The ATS is focusing on a trove of digital evidence recovered from pen drives and two cellphones seized during searches at Sydeek's residences. Authorities believe these could reveal critical details about a nationwide urban Maoist network , including future plans and operational strategies. "The digital evidence is substantial and requires thorough analysis to uncover the full extent of the network's activities," an ATS official said, emphasizing the need for extended custody. The investigation also took a significant turn with suspicions of Sydeek's connections to Pakistan-based Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operatives. Sources in ATS indicate that Sydeek allegedly received documents related to the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) and its movements. Sydeek's role reportedly involved studying the operations of govt and army-supported NGOs in the Kashmir Valley, which aim to counter separatist sentiments. Sydeek is also accused of being tasked with establishing NGOs to undermine these efforts and promote narratives aligned with anti-establishment agendas. The ATS is expected to interrogate Sydeek rigorously over the next two days to map out his contacts, both within India and abroad, and to ascertain the scope of his activities in Nagpur and beyond. The agency is particularly keen on identifying any local support systems that may have facilitated his operations in the city, a growing hub for such investigations. W hile the court's decision to limit custody to two days has constrained the ATS's immediate plans, officials remain optimistic about making significant breakthroughs. The ATS may seek an extension of custody if leads emerge during interrogation. Sydeek's arrest raised alarm about the potential spread of urban Maoist ideologies in newer regions, prompting heightened vigilance among law enforcement agencies. The ATS has urged citizens to report any suspicious activities, emphasizing its commitment to dismantling such networks. The case continues to unfold, with the ATS expected to provide updates as the investigation progresses. Authorities have assured that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure national security and prevent any disruptions stemming from such activities.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Law student suspended after found with UAPA accused at Nagpur hotel
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court has declined to stay the suspension of a final-year law student, who was found in a Nagpur hotel with a suspected Urban Naxal from Kerala, Rejaz Sydeek, recently arrested under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly waging war against India. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A student of an elite law college in Nagpur, she was debarred from all academic and non-academic activities since May 10, two days after Sydeek's arrest. She had moved HC seeking urgent relief as her semester examinations were underway. Her plea was strongly opposed by additional govt pleader Sangeeta Jachak, who represented Lakadganj police. A vacation bench of Justice Rohit Joshi ruled that the action was administrative in nature and therefore did not warrant judicial interference at this stage. "Suspension and debarring a student from appearing in examinations are punishments under the code of conduct. However, suspension pending inquiry is not punishment, but an administrative action. It is well settled that the power to issue such suspension is inherent in a disciplinary authority," the court observed. The court was hearing a writ petition filed by the student, who was present during the arrest of Sydeek, a Kerala resident facing UAPA charges filed by Lakadganj police on May 8. Sydeek is accused of links with radical organisations and involvement in anti-national activities. The law school later pointed to the student's social media activity, including one post allegedly contradicting the official stand on "Operation Sindoor," a recent military campaign. The petitioner, who has 13 subject backlogs across various semesters, argued through her counsel S Kulkarni that the institution's decision violated principles of natural justice. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He contended that punishment could not be imposed without conducting an inquiry, as mandated under the university's 2023 code of conduct. The institution, however, assured the court that the disciplinary proceedings would be completed by May 25. It submitted that if the petitioner is exonerated, she would be allowed to sit for special examinations prior to the declaration of results — scheduled tentatively for early July. The last of her pending exams is on June 5. "This examination will be conducted before declaration of results for the seventh semester. Her results, including for backlogs, will be declared along with those of other students," the court noted, terming this approach as sufficient to "balance the equities." Justice Joshi permitted the institution to proceed with the disciplinary process, but directed that the outcome be communicated to the student on May 25. The case is scheduled for further hearing on May 27. KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM HC NAGPUR BENCH VERDICT Court held that the suspension was administrative, not punitive, pending inquiry Action does not violate natural justice as special exams will be allowed if exonerated to be completed by May 25; decision to be shared the same day. Student was barred from exams starting May 15; the last paper is on June 5 The student has 13 academic backlogs across semesters. Lakadganj police opposed relief; FIR filed under UAPA on May 8 Student's social media post on Operation Sindoor was flagged Petition is listed for further hearing on May 27 Court deemed the institute's approach fair & balanced
