Bengaluru: A special NIA court has sentenced Syed Fasiyur Rehman, a key accused in the Bengaluru Al-Hind ISIS conspiracy case, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 48,000 for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy linked to the banned Islamic State (ISIS) organisation.
The case relates to an alleged conspiracy to carry out terrorist activities in India and expand the activities of an Al-Hind-linked group. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the accused were part of a larger conspiracy aimed at furthering the activities of ISIS and establishing its influence in India.
The Bengaluru police had initially registered a case against the accused on January 10, 2020. The investigation was subsequently taken over by the NIA, which expanded the probe into the alleged network and its activities.
According to the NIA, it has so far filed three chargesheets against 20 accused persons in the Al-Hind ISIS case. The latest conviction is part of the agency’s continuing prosecution of those allegedly involved in the conspiracy. Another accused, Haneef Khan, had earlier pleaded guilty in the case. The court subsequently sentenced him on July 14, 2026.
The investigation into the alleged conspiracy has focused on meetings, recruitment, training and preparations purportedly undertaken by members of the group. The NIA has alleged that the principal conspirator, Mehboob Pasha, held several meetings at his residence in Gurappanapalya, Bengaluru.
Investigators alleged that the meetings were aimed at strengthening the network and planning activities that could create communal unrest. The group was also accused of planning targeted killings as part of its larger conspiracy.
The NIA said Syed Fasiyur Rehman was among those who participated in meetings connected with the alleged conspiracy. Investigators also alleged that he purchased tents and knives from a Decathlon sports showroom for the purported purpose of providing training to members of the Al-Hind group in forest areas.
The agency has maintained that the group was attempting to build a network capable of carrying out terrorist activities and advancing the objectives of ISIS in India.
The alleged conspiracy reportedly involved efforts to provide members with training and logistical support. Investigators have been examining how different members were connected, the nature of their activities and the alleged role played by individuals in facilitating the network.
The NIA’s investigation has also focused on the digital component of the alleged conspiracy. According to the agency, efforts are continuing to identify the principal online handler allegedly operating behind the network.
The latest sentencing marks another significant development in a case that has been under investigation for several years. The prosecution has relied on evidence gathered during the investigation to establish the alleged involvement of individual accused persons in the wider conspiracy.
The NIA has described the case as involving an organised effort to promote the objectives of a banned terrorist organisation. The agency has been pursuing separate legal proceedings against the accused named in its chargesheets.
With Fasiyur Rehman now sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment, the case continues to move forward against other accused persons through separate proceedings. The sentencing also follows the conviction of Haneef Khan earlier this year.
The agency has reiterated that the investigation into the larger conspiracy is continuing, particularly with regard to identifying the alleged online handler and establishing the complete network behind the activities.
The case has drawn attention to the investigation of alleged ISIS-linked networks operating through local groups and individuals. The NIA’s probe is examining not only the alleged physical activities of the accused but also the communication and online links believed to have facilitated the conspiracy.
The court’s order against Fasiyur Rehman comes after years of investigation that began with the Bengaluru police case in 2020 before being transferred to the central agency. The prosecution of the accused is being pursued under the relevant provisions of anti-terror and criminal laws. The NIA said further investigation into the remaining aspects of the alleged conspiracy remains underway.
