Bengaluru: In a significant verdict, a special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has convicted seven accused in a sensational case involving the recovery of live grenades and a conspiracy to free a terror accused. The court sentenced all seven-to-seven years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 48,000 each.
The case revolved around a larger plot allegedly aimed at securing the release of Tadiyandavide Naseer, the alleged mastermind behind the 2008 Chinnaswamy Stadium Blast. According to investigators, some of the accused had come into contact with Naseer while lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison.
During the trial, NIA Special Public Prosecutor Prasanna Kumar argued that the accused had hatched a detailed plan to attack a police convoy using grenades and explosives when Naseer was being transported to court or hospital. The intention was to facilitate his escape from custody.
The court, after hearing arguments, had reserved its judgment and later pronounced the sentence, holding all seven guilty. Apart from imprisonment, a financial penalty was also imposed as part of the punishment.
Investigations revealed that the accused had stockpiled explosives, grenades, pistols, ammunition, and communication devices such as walkie-talkies. Notably, an Assistant Sub-Inspector lodged in jail was also found to be involved in the conspiracy.
The plot came to light in 2023 when the Central Crime Branch (CCB), while probing another case, intercepted conversations of inmates inside Parappana Agrahara prison. Acting on these inputs, police conducted a raid at a house in RT Nagar and recovered live grenades, firearms, ammunition, and detailed maps.
Following the arrests, the case was handed over to the NIA, which uncovered deeper links between the accused and extremist networks. Investigators found that the group was not only planning to free Naseer but was also allegedly preparing for further attacks in crowded areas of Bengaluru.
Officials further stated that even while in prison, Naseer was allegedly involved in spreading extremist ideology and attempting to influence other inmates. Meanwhile, the key accused in the conspiracy, Junaid, remains absconding. The NIA has announced a reward of Rs 5 lakh for information leading to his arrest, with suspicions that he may be hiding in Dubai.
Arafat Ali’s sentences in Shivamogga trial blast
In a major breakthrough in the 2022 Shivamogga terror conspiracy case, a special court of the National Investigation Agency in Bengaluru has convicted and sentenced a third accused to six years of rigorous imprisonment.
The convicted accused, Arafath Ali, was found guilty of being part of a larger conspiracy linked to the banned terror outfit Islamic State. The NIA special court pronounced the sentence as part of ongoing proceedings in the high-profile case that has raised concerns over radicalisation networks in Karnataka.
According to the NIA, Arafath Ali had fled India in January 2020 in an attempt to evade arrest in connection with a separate terror module. He was eventually apprehended upon his arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport in September 2023 and subsequently taken into custody.
Investigations revealed that Arafath was an active member of ISIS and played a key role in promoting its extremist ideology within India. He was allegedly involved in radicalising and recruiting vulnerable youth into a Shivamogga-based terror module.
The probe further uncovered that the accused had instigated co-conspirators to carry out inflammatory graffiti campaigns in Mangaluru in support of terror organisations, including ISIS and Lashkar-e-Taiba. These acts were aimed at inciting communal tension and disrupting public harmony.
The NIA also found that Arafath maintained contact with an online ISIS handler and facilitated terror financing. He allegedly received funds through cryptocurrency channels and distributed them among other members of the module to support their activities.
The case was initially registered by the Karnataka Police in September 2022 before being handed over to the NIA for a more comprehensive investigation. While two individuals were first arrested by the state police, the NIA later arrested 10 more accused, taking the total to 12.
A chargesheet was filed against all the accused, and with the latest verdict, three individuals have now been convicted and sentenced to six years each. The trial against the remaining nine accused is currently underway in the NIA special court.
Officials said the case highlights the evolving methods used by terror networks, including online radicalisation and the use of digital currencies for funding. The NIA reiterated its commitment to dismantling such networks and preventing the spread of extremist ideologies in the country.
