Court denies bail to six suspected Islamic State operatives

A special court on Friday refused bail to six suspected Islamic State operatives, arrested from different parts of the country, for allegedly promoting activities and ideologies of the banned terror outfit and luring the youths to join it.

During in-camera proceedings, District Judge Amarnath denied relief to accused Mohd Azeemusan, Mohd Osama, Akhlaq ur-Rehman, Meeraj, Mohsin Ibrahim Sayyed and Mudabbir Shaikh, and further extended their judicial custody, sources said.

The accused were arrested by the special cell of Delhi police in the case for allegedly having links with the Islamic State. The home ministry had later transferred the case to the National Investigation Agency. These and other accused were nabbed from various cities including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Aurangabad.

In the bail plea, advocate M S Khan, who appeared for the accused persons, said, "Period of investigation was extended by this court on June 10 till July 8 and the same has expired on Friday. Neither the chargesheet 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.

The NIA had earlier taken custody of the accused, saying their custody was required in order to unearth larger conspiracy of the Islamic State.

It had earlier told the court that during the custodial probe conducted by the Delhi police, certain names, codes and mobile numbers of some active members and motivator of the Islamic State, were disclosed by them.

These members were involved in furtherance of activities of their ideologies using internet-based communications like Facebook, Skype and other platforms to lure youths to join the proscribed terrorist organisation, it had claimed.

The special cell had registered the first information report in January under the sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. Later, the case was transferred to the NIA and a fresh FIR was registered.

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