After 18 years, Nagpur court acquits 8 men in SIMI case
Judge cites lack of evidence, says mere possession of literature not an offence
Nagpur: More than 18 years after being accused of organising meetings and distributing pamphlets linked to the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), eight men have been acquitted by a Nagpur court for lack of evidence.
Judicial Magistrate A.K. Bankar, in her order, stated that “there is no evidence of any acts or participation in meetings, communication, propaganda, or support, financially or otherwise, on the part of the accused.” She further observed that “mere possession of literature or documents allegedly connected to an unlawful association, without proof of active intent or participation, does not meet the threshold laid down in the law.”
The men, Shakil Warsi, Shakir Ahmed Nasir Ahmed, Mohammad Rehan Atullakhan, Jiyaur Rahman Maheboob Khan, Wakar Baig Yusuf Baig, Imtiyaj Ahmed Nisar Ahmed, Mohammad Abrar Arif Mohammad Kashim, and Sheikh Ahmad Sheikh, were in their 30s when they were booked in 2006 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and other charges.
Police had claimed they received confidential information linking the men to SIMI and alleged that incriminating material was recovered from their residences. However, the prosecution failed to produce any record of such intelligence or prove the recoveries in court. Independent witnesses did not support the police case.
The court noted that none of the prosecution witnesses testified to facts constituting the alleged offences, and even the claim that one accused was sheltered from arrest by the others was unproven.
All eight were acquitted of charges under Sections 10 and 13 of the UAPA.
Rights advocates have pointed to the case as part of a broader pattern in India, where young Muslim men face long incarcerations under stringent anti-terror laws, only to be acquitted after years when cases collapse in court. In 2021, a Surat court acquitted 122 people in a similar alleged SIMI meeting case from 2001, after the prosecution failed to prove any unlawful activity.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
