Latest news with #UnlawfulActivities(Prevention)Act
Hans India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Two Maoists charge sheeted by NIA in 2022 Jharkhand arms recovery case
New Delhi: In a fresh set of chargesheet, two more accused have been named by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in a 2022 case relating to seizure of arms and ammunition as part of a conspiracy by the banned CPI (Maoist) terror conspiracy to attack security forces in Jharkhand. The charges were filed by the agency against Ranthu Oraon and Niraj Singh Kherwar, both hailing from Jharkhand, taking the number of accused in the case RC-02/2022/NIA/RNC to 25. The NIA has chargesheeted the two under the Arms Act, Explosive Substance Act and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Acting on a tip-off, the local police and CRPF personnel had, in February 2022, launched a joint search operation in the forest area of Bulbul, Lohardaga, Jharkhand, where CPI (Maoist) cadres had gathered to plan an attack on security forces in the Bauxite Mines Area to take revenge against the arrest of their top commander, Prashant Bose. The gathering was led by the terror organisation's Regional Commander Ravindra Ganjhu, along with active cadres Balram Oraon, Muneshwar Ganjhu and 45-60 other cadres. On their way to Bahabar Jungle, the security forces had come under indiscriminate firing by the CPI (Maoist) cadres at Harkatta Toli and Bangla Pat. An encounter followed, after which the security forces extensively searched the area and seized a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Jharkhand Police had initially charge sheeted nine persons in the case. Subsequently, between August 2023 and May 2025, NIA filed five supplementary chargesheets against 23 persons. This included nine accused already chargesheeted by Jharkhand police and further charged under new sections by NIA. NIA, during the course of investigation, found that the conspiracy was aimed at carrying out terrorist and violent acts and armed rebellion with the objective of threatening the integrity, security, and sovereignty of the nation, and destabilising the government. Credible evidence collected by NIA against the arrested accused, including Zonal Commander, Sub-Zonal Commander, Area Commander and armed cadres, had also revealed complicity of other CPI (Maoist) cadres and overground supporters. NIA is hunting out the other co-conspirators as part of its efforts to dismantle the CPI (Maoist) network in the country.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
HC rejects bail plea of lawyer held under UAPA
Bhopal: A division bench of the MP High Court rejected the bail application of a lawyer from Bhopal, who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The bench, comprising Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice Dev Narayan Mishra, found that the 'incriminating' documents seized from the accused showed he was working to create a communal divide in society. Wasid Khan from Bhopal, in his bail application, stated that he is an advocate and also works with a human rights group as a volunteer to spread legal awareness among people. He claimed he did nothing to implicate him under section 2 (o) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. He argued that the documents seized from him have no value as evidence, as they were seized in his absence while he was in jail. The division bench, while turning down the application, stated that the provision of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act is normally invoked to tackle subversive or terrorist activities targeting the unity, integrity, and sovereignty of the country. The case against the accused is pending, and he is at liberty to produce evidence in his support in the trial court. The bail application was rejected as premature. A case was registered against Wasid Khan by the NIA sleuths under sections 121 (a), 153 (a), 120 (b), and 201 of the IPC and sections 13 (1) (b), 18, 18 (a), and 18 (b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. His bail application in the NIA court was rejected in February.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bantwal murder case: Forum demands police action against Hindutva activists
Mangaluru: Muslim Samaja Bantwal has urged the police to book Hindutva activists Bharat Kumdel, Sharan Pumpwell, Srikant Shetty and Shivananda Mendon in the brutal murder of Abdul Rahiman. KH Aboobakker, president of the Muslim Samaja Bantwal, and general secretary Haneef Khan told reporters here on Thursday, that these activists were instigating youths to murder Muslims by delivering provocative speeches at 'Bajpe Chalo' and various other occasions, after the murder of Suhas Shetty. Hence, their names should also be added to the FIR. There are more perpetrators behind the murder of Rahiman. The case should be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or a probe should be conducted through a special investigation team, they demanded. They also demanded that the accused should be booked under appropriate sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Karnataka Control of Organised Crimes Act (KCOCA). Aboobakker said that the family of Rahiman, who left behind two children, a wife, and elderly parents, is in distress. "Rahiman, who was very friendly with everyone in the village, has no criminal background. A hardworking pick-up vehicle driver, who was lending a helping hand to needy people without considering their religion and caste, was murdered by fundamentalist forces based on the directions of Sangh Parivar. It is the responsibility of the govt to provide compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family. The govt should also bear the medical expenses of seriously injured Kalandar Shafi, who is undergoing treatment at a private hospital," he said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka High Court sets aside State government's 2024 decision to withdraw 43 criminal cases
The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday (May 29, 2025) set aside the Government Order (GO) issued in October 2024 for withdrawing 43 criminal cases, including the 2022 case of Hubballi riots, in which a mob had attacked and assaulted several police personnel over the issue of a controversial post on social media. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice K.V. Aravind passed the order while allowing a PIL petition filed by Girish Bharadwaj, a city-based advocate. 'The GO is set aside. It is declared that the GO shall stand non est from inception. Consequences in law will follow...,' the Chief Justice said while reading out the operative portion of the order. Impact of judgement The impact of the judgement is that even if the proceedings in any of the 43 cases were already from the jurisdictional courts based on the October 15, 2024, GO, all those proceedings will resume from the stage at which they were withdrawn. The petitioner had expressed concern as the 43 cases, which the Cabinet decided to withdraw, included the those in which serious charges under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act, 1984, and Religious Institution (Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1988 were invoked against some of the accused persons, including the 2022 case of Hubballi riots. In a few other cases, which were proposed to be withdrawn, former Ministers, former MLAs, and persons belonging to influential organisations were arraigned as accused persons, the petitioner had pointed out while contending that the GO was violative of Section 321 of the Criminal Procedure Code (Cr. PC) as this provision specifically grants the authority to initiate any action for withdrawal from prosecution solely to the prosecutor. Hence, it was argued on behalf of the petitioner that the State Cabinet had no power to issue the direction to the prosecutor to withdraw these criminal cases. Opinion of departments Also, the petitioner had stated that the decision of the Cabinet, based on which the GO was issued, was contrary to the opinion of the departments of the police and the prosecution, which had stated that these criminal cases were not fit for withdrawal. Moreover, it was pointed out in the petition that the High Court, while dealing with a similar instance of withdrawal of criminal cases based on 2020 Cabinet decision, had in 2022 clarified that withdrawal of cases against former and present MPs and MLAs would be governed by the judgment of the apex court, and hence they cannot be withdrawn without permission from the respective High Courts.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Rajasthan government employee held over suspicion of ‘spying' for Pakistan
A Rajasthan state government employee, identified as Shakur Khan, was detained in Jaisalmer on Wednesday night for allegedly spying for Pakistan, officials said. According to news agency PTI, Rajasthan's intelligence department team was acting on security-related inputs when it arrested Khan. The suspicion of espionage for Pakistan on Khan arose when phone numbers related to Islamabad were found on his mobile phone, officials said. The detained individual works in the district employment office in Jaisalmer. "There were inputs about Shakur Khan that he could be involved in spying for Pakistan. He was on surveillance following inputs and was detained last night," the officer said. Shakur Khan was on duty in the district administration's control room during Operation Sindoor, an India Today report said. Khan was earlier working as a personal assistant to former minister Shale Mohammad under the Congress regime in Rajasthan. Both Mohammad and Khan hail from the same village, the report added. Following his detention, Khan was jointly interrogated in Jaisalmer. Later, the intelligence team left with him for Jaipur. During questioning, Khan reportedly failed to explain the Pakistani-related numbers on his phone. He also admitted to having visited Islamabad 6-7 times in the past. Officials said that so far, no military-related or sensitive information has been found on Khan's mobile phone. However, many posts were reportedly found deleted. Intelligence agencies are also probing Khan's financial records. Central agencies will interrogate him in Jaipur on Thursday, news agency PTI reported. This comes just days after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a CRPF personnel for allegedly spying for Pakistan. The accused, Moti Ram Jat, was reportedly actively engaged in espionage activity and had been sharing classified information about national security with Pakistan intelligence officers (PIOs) since 2023. Officials said that Jat, employed as an assistant sub-inspector with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), was receiving funds from the PIOs via several channels. On Monday, the CRPF said that it dismissed Jat after he was found to have "acted in violation of established norms and protocols" of the central paramilitary force during monitoring of his social media activity. 'Upon preliminary assessment, the matter was deemed serious and has since been referred to the NIA for further inquiry. Concurrently, the individual has been dismissed from service with effect from 21.05.2025, under the relevant provisions of the Constitution of India read with the CRPF Rules,' said the statement. Jat has been booked under sections 15 (pertaining to terror act), 16 (punishment for terror act), and 18 (punishment for conspiracy and related acts) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Previously, intelligence teams also began probing several YouTubers and YouTube channels over alleged links to a Pakistani spy network operating in India. Hisar-based YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra hit the headlines several times over her alleged visits to Pakistan and contacts with PIOs, including a former Pakistan high commission staffer. The central intelligence agencies have ramped up surveillance against activities related to possible espionage for Pakistan across India. The move came against the backdrop of the recent tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours that followed the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack and the Indian armed forces' Operation Sindoor that was launched in response to the terror incident.
