ISIS case accused claims suspected Army personnel offered trial 'wipe out'; court seeks NIA reply
Mumbai (PTI): An ISIS link case accused has claimed two persons posing as Army officers approached him and offered to "wipe out" his trial if he joined a covert operation, prompting a court here to seek responses from the NIA and police.
Areeb Majeed, arrested in 2014 under the anti-terror law and facing trial, filed an application before the court stating that he doesn't seek any extrajudicial favours and settlements, but wishes his case to be decided strictly on legal merits.
Taking cognisance of his plea, the court on Wednesday said this is a "serious incident involving suspected impersonation, attempted inducement, subsequent pressure, and interference with the fair administration of justice."
Special NIA Court Judge Chakor Baviskar issued a notice to the Bazar Peth police (at Kalyan in neighbouring Thane district) and the National Investigation Agency, seeking their reply to the complaint raised by Majeed.
The matter has been adjourned to March 4.
According to the application filed by Majeed, who was granted bail by the high court in 2021, the events unfolded on February 21, 2026.
It stated that Majeed was at his college when his wife informed him that an unidentified man and woman had arrived at his residence in Kalyan, insisting on waiting inside for his return.
The woman, claiming to be from the Indian Army, told Majeed over the phone that she was accompanied by a senior Colonel-rank officer from New Delhi.
She allegedly told Majeed they needed his "help" in a covert operation and, in return, would "wipe out the case pending against" him, the plea said.
Suspecting an attempt to prejudice his trial or engineer communications that could implicate him further, Majeed refused them entry.
He then dialled the 112 emergency helpline number and alerted the NIA control room.
The two individuals were subsequently taken to the Bazar Peth police station for questioning.
The NIA's case was that Majeed had travelled to Syria to allegedly join the terrorist group ISIS and returned to India to carry out terror activities.
He was arrested in November 2014 under provisions of the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code for waging war against the nation and other charges.
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BJP will win West Bengal polls, drive out every single infiltrator: Amit Shah
Araria (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday exuded confidence that the BJP will win the upcoming assembly polls in West Bengal, and “drive out every single infiltrator” from the state after coming to power.
Shah made the remark while addressing a function of the Sashastra Seema Bal in Araria district of Bihar, which falls in the Seemanchal region bordering West Bengal.
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“Elections are around the corner in West Bengal. I am confident that the BJP is going to win. Upon formation of the new government, we shall drive out every single infiltrator,” he asserted.
“The process of flushing out infiltrators will begin in Bihar, especially in the Seemanchal region. We had won the assembly polls here last year on this very issue. And, we got the mandate even though opponents were criticising our agenda,” the home minister said.
Shah said infiltration is a threat to national security, and infiltrators also threaten the demographic balance of an area, feed on ration, and avail other benefits meant for common people.
“Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Assam are the most vulnerable to such demographic disturbance. The Narendra Modi government is committed to maintain demographic balance,” Shah said.
He began his speech by paying rich tributes to legendary freedom fighter and Hindutva icon Vinayak Damodar Savarkar on his death anniversary.
“The Revolt of 1857 came to be seen as India’s First War of Independence only after Savarkar... wrote a book asserting the same,” Shah added.
