A special court on Monday refused bail to 14 suspected Islamic State operatives, arrested from across the country for allegedly financing and recruiting people to join the terror group.
District judge Amar Nath rejected the bail application of the accused persons saying the allegations were of serious nature and they do not deserve the relief.
In the bail application, the accused had sought statutory bail, saying the period of probe had expired on May 18.
"The period of investigation was extended up to 120 days and the same expired on May 18, hence the indefensible right to statutory bail arises and the applicants-accused have been entitled to be released on bail...
"It is, therefore, most respectfully and in the interest of justice prayed that the applicant-accused may kindly be released on statutory bail," the bail application moved by the accused appearing for the accused persons said.
While accused Nafees Khan and Mohd Shareef Moinuddin Khan were arrested on January 22, the other accused including, Abu Anas, Mohd Afzal, Suhail Ahmed, Mohd Aleem, Asif Ali, Mohd Hussain Khan, Mohd Imran Khan, Syed Mujahid, Mohd Obaidullah Khan, Mudabbir Mushtaq Shaikh, Najmul Huda and Mohd Abdul Ahad were arrested on January 23.
Earlier, the probe agency had told the court that the accused were involved in a larger conspiracy of the outfit, in India and abroad, including recruitment of resident and non-resident Indians. The terror group has captured vast territories in Iraq and Syria.
The accused were arrested from different parts of the country for allegedly recruiting and financing people to join the terror organisation.
The National Investigation Agency had earlier told the court that the accused, in course of interrogation, had admitted to "their involvement in this case about recruiting and financing persons willing to join the Caliphate of Islamic State at Syria".
They were arrested under several sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and IPC. A case was registered by NIA on December 9, 2015 against unknown and unidentified persons involved in the activities of Islamic State in India and Asian powers in peace with India.
